General

In Southern California, scorpions are generally found in foothill and mountain areas. Scorpions make their homes in burrows under rocks and trees, but in urban areas live in woodpiles, garages, cellars, etc. Adults range in size from a little over one inch to just under three inches in the varied species. Scorpions can inflict a very painful sting, however the California variety is not lethal. There is one species (the Bark Scorpion) making its way into Southern California from Arizona that does have the potential to be lethal-in fact, in Arizona it kills more people than do rattlesnakes.

Scorpions

All scorpions are known for their "lobster" claws (palps), long body, and tail with a stinger. They are mostly nocturnal, and seek dark hiding places during the day. They feed on crickets, spiders, beetles, cockroaches-just about anything crawling on the ground. They have the ability to go up to six months without food or water. Scorpions make their homes in burrows under rocks and trees, but in urban areas live in woodpiles, garages, cellars, etc. Adults range in size from a little over one inch to just under three inches in the many varied species.

Wind Scorpions

These are not actually scorpions at all-they are more accurately "Sun Spiders." They bear some resemblance to scorpions and crickets-a cross between the two. They do not sting or bite as they have no tail or stinger, but can "pinch" with their jaws. They are usually found in dry desert areas, and are ground dwellers. They burrow, pushing the soil ahead of themselves like little bulldozers. Sun spiders are harmless-they eat other insects, and are mainly nocturnal.

Whip Scorpion (Vineragoon)

Also not a true scorpion, "Whip Scorpions" do bear a close resemblance as they have the similar front claws, but lack a tail stinger. They are harmless, and hide during the day in damp places. At night they feed on other insects. As a defense, they emit a fluid that has the odor of vinegar, which gave the Spanish settlers the reason to call them "vinagrons", which became "vinegaroon" in English. They have an unusual flagellum as a tail-a "whip."

Life Cycle:

Females give birth to live young, which are carried on the mother's back for 5-15 days until they go through the first of several molts. They increase in size after each molt, eventually becoming adults after 3-4 years. Females produce an average of 32 young in their lifetime.

Scorpion

Wind Scorpion

Whip Scorpion (Vinegaroon)

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