ScientificName: Order Scorpiones, Class Arachnida.
Description: Many colors and sizes, recognized by their curled stinger, 8 legs, and front pinchers.
Habitat/Food: Scorpions can be found in 31 different states in the U.S., including Hawaii.Scorpions generally use their chela (pincers) to catch the prey initially. Depending on their toxicity of their venom and size of their claws, they will then either crush it or inject it with neurotoxic venom. This will kill or paralyze the prey so the scorpion can eat it.
Life Cycle: The young are born one by one, and the brood is carried about on its mother's back until the young have undergone at least one moult. Before the first moult, scorplings cannot survive naturally without the mother, depending on her for protection and to regulate their moisture levels. Growth is accomplished by periodical shedding of the exoskeleton. Scorpions have very variable lifespans and the actual lifespan of most species is not known; however, the range is approximately 4-25 years.
Organic Control: Citrus, pyrethrins, and many other plant oil based sprays will work well.
Interesting Fact: The belief that scorpions commit suicide by stinging themselves to death when surrounded by fire is not true. The misconception may derive from the fact that scorpions are poikilotherms: when exposed to intense heat their metabolic processes malfunction. This causes the scorpion to spasm wildly and this spasming may appear as if the scorpion is stinging itself.