Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis, or the European yellow-tailed scorpion, is a small black scorpion with yellow-brown legs and tail (metasoma). Adults measure about 35–45 mm (1.4–1.8 in) long. It has relatively large, strong claws (pedipalps) and a short, thin tail. It is native to Southern Europe and Northwest Africa, but an introduced population exists in the United Kingdom.
The native range of Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis extends through Northwest Africa and Southern Europe, but it has also been accidentally introduced into the United Kingdom at Sheerness Dockyard on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, and parts of east London. The introduction is thought to have taken place in the early 19th century via a shipment of Italian masonry. The resulting colony, numbering 10,000 to 15,000 individuals in 2013, is the northernmost population of scorpions outside the Americas.[1]
Habitat
In warm temperate climates, this species can be found in built-up areas. In the UK, the scorpion occupies cracks and holes in walls where the mortar pointing has crumbled away.
Venom
It is a mildly venomous scorpion, which rarely uses its stinger. Their sting is less painful than a bee sting to humans.[2]
Reproduction
The gestation period is 10–14 months, depending on the availability of food and the prevalent climate.
After union with the male, a pregnant female looks for a secluded, humid place to give birth to live young, from a few to about 30, which are white, soft, and swollen. The mother raises her forelegs to facilitate the release of the young, which then climb onto her back, where they remain until the first moult (about 6 days). After that, the young start to wander around the surrounding area, but remain together close to the hiding place for a few days. The young scorpions reach adulthood after 1-2 years.[3]
Feeding
Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis is an ambush predator, lying motionless at the entrance to its lair, but moving quickly to capture prey that wanders by. The main prey of T. flavicaudis are woodlice, although most small insects are taken. Cannibalism has been noted in colonies of T. flavicaudis. Thanks to their low metabolic rate these scorpions may go for long periods of time without food and subsist on as few as four or five woodlice per year.
tetratrichobothrius, flavicaudis, european, yellow, tailed, scorpion, small, black, scorpion, with, yellow, brown, legs, tail, metasoma, adults, measure, about, long, relatively, large, strong, claws, pedipalps, short, thin, tail, native, southern, europe, nor. Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis or the European yellow tailed scorpion is a small black scorpion with yellow brown legs and tail metasoma Adults measure about 35 45 mm 1 4 1 8 in long It has relatively large strong claws pedipalps and a short thin tail It is native to Southern Europe and Northwest Africa but an introduced population exists in the United Kingdom Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudisScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaSubphylum ChelicerataClass ArachnidaOrder ScorpionesFamily EuscorpiidaeGenus TetratrichobothriusSpecies T flavicaudisBinomial nameTetratrichobothrius flavicaudis De Geer 1778 SynonymsEuscorpius flavicaudis De Geer 1778 Contents 1 Distribution 2 Habitat 3 Venom 4 Reproduction 5 Feeding 6 ReferencesDistribution EditThe native range of Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis extends through Northwest Africa and Southern Europe but it has also been accidentally introduced into the United Kingdom at Sheerness Dockyard on the Isle of Sheppey Kent and parts of east London The introduction is thought to have taken place in the early 19th century via a shipment of Italian masonry The resulting colony numbering 10 000 to 15 000 individuals in 2013 is the northernmost population of scorpions outside the Americas 1 Habitat EditIn warm temperate climates this species can be found in built up areas In the UK the scorpion occupies cracks and holes in walls where the mortar pointing has crumbled away Venom EditIt is a mildly venomous scorpion which rarely uses its stinger Their sting is less painful than a bee sting to humans 2 Reproduction EditThe gestation period is 10 14 months depending on the availability of food and the prevalent climate After union with the male a pregnant female looks for a secluded humid place to give birth to live young from a few to about 30 which are white soft and swollen The mother raises her forelegs to facilitate the release of the young which then climb onto her back where they remain until the first moult about 6 days After that the young start to wander around the surrounding area but remain together close to the hiding place for a few days The young scorpions reach adulthood after 1 2 years 3 Feeding EditTetratrichobothrius flavicaudis is an ambush predator lying motionless at the entrance to its lair but moving quickly to capture prey that wanders by The main prey of T flavicaudis are woodlice although most small insects are taken Cannibalism has been noted in colonies of T flavicaudis Thanks to their low metabolic rate these scorpions may go for long periods of time without food and subsist on as few as four or five woodlice per year References Edit Distribution Venom Reproduction Archived from the original on 2019 12 15 Retrieved 2009 10 11 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Euscorpius flavicaudis Wikispecies has information related to Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis This scorpion related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis amp oldid 1122398770, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
