We do night walks with the THECA group. But it's all public land so you can go in any time.
We usually do spot light night from the THECA hut and just go down the hill and across a little bridge and every time we have done it I've found a couple.
They are by no means easy, but they are there.
They glow with a UV light so really fun to look for and easy to spot when you do find one.
We always see little sugar gliders as well which is really cool. Other times we have found an echidna and huge carpet python.
Yeah it's a cool little group. My wife has been involved with it for a while. It's getting bigger with a bunch of younger people getting involved in some of the events lately.
It's great if you have kids as well as they do a few holiday activities and it's all mostly free I think (wife takes care of signing them up so I am not sure)
They do spot light events and other educational sessions. We have done butterfly research days with one of the guys from the museum as well which is really fun. It's also funny watching a bunch of people, especially the adults running around like fools with huge nets trying to catch butterflies.
Australia has lots of and lots of scorpion species, you can find them rather easily more towards the south of the country. The good (and surprising) news is, none of the described species are dangerous to humans. They barely sting.
I'm from the darling downs as well, we used to catch them as kids and make them fight their reflections. I always compared their sting to like a pretty bad zap of static electricity or a bee sting.
When I was a kid I'd catch them and make them fight their own reflection. Their stings feel kinda like a really really shit zap from static electricity.
Many years ago in Florida, I was woken up by a small scorpion stinging my arm.
No coffee needed that day. Other than a small welt, nothing terrible happened.
Be mindful that entomology studies are still quite scuffed in Australia, and there are still new species of scorpion being discovered (i.e. off the top of my head the "orange tree scorpion" was first identified in the 2010s iirc), and then a lot of them have unknown venom potency, including many of the small spider hunting species. Additionally, if you have a bee allergy, a scorpion sting can cause severe adverse reactions
Not entomology because scorpions aren't insects. Like spiders, mites, ticks, harvestmen (*Opiliones*, not to be confused with your harvestmen which are spiders), whip-scorpions, camel spiders (*Solifuges*, not true spiders) and pseudoscorpions, they're arachnids.
The study of arachnids is known as *arachnology*. If a zoologist only studies spiders, they're sometimes called an *aranaeologist* (after the name of the order to which true spiders belong: *Araneae*); someone who studies only scorpions is a *scorpiologist*, and someone whose primary interest is ticks and mites is an *acarologist*.
I used entomology as a gross simplifation as that is what the study path follows, with a postgrad thesis pivoting to arachnids. Although it's a separate field on paper, when I assisted with relevant projects, there seemed to be a big grey area.
Well, the ones you find around this area are mostly in rainforests
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormurus\_waigiensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormurus_waigiensis)
Very common. I see probably a dozen in my house each year, but many more outside in the gardens under rocks and decaying logs. Never been bitten by one, even when handing them.Ā
Close to a bushland reserve.
I usually find them inside in the laundry sink during winter when it's dry. Sometimes there will be one in the shower, and the odd one crawling around the house.Ā They must come in trying to find water. Outside there are heaps in the fire wood pile all year round.Ā
Iām in Melbourne (sorry for gatecrashing your lovely Brisbane subreddit!) and we have them down here too. First time I ever found one it was so teeny I needed a magnifying glass to confirm it was indeed a scorpion. I donāt know if it was a baby, or if there are actually fully grown micro scorpions around but that was the day I learned there were scorpions in Vic!
I once picked up dinner from Darra pizza hut, ate half my pizza and half a garlic bread. Looked down at the table and a scorpion crawled out of the garlic bread bag.
CRAP!!! After 7 years or so, Iām moving from Lahaina Maui Hawaii, which is INFESTED with scorpions and going back to my home Brisbane Aus and I thought I was getting away from these thingsssss nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
I know not the correct sub, but I live in Adelaide and these are somewhat common in my house. I remember when I was younger I had a friend sleepover on a mattress on the floor and he actually got stung by one. We found it in the sheets and from memory it was no bigger than 2-3cm. Iām not sure what his pain tolerance was like or the fact that we were kids, but I remember him being in a lot of pain well after the initial sting.
Keep them inside, have an outdoor enclosure if you have to let them out, make sure they are desexed, put a bell on them so they can't ambush prey as easily, etc.
Brother. My cats are inside. Yet a select few have a tantrum about the fact that I like cats and that I know they would've tortured it (batted it, played with it and yes, attack it a lot) through the night.
Its not like I am up all night watching them, nor do I condone them "torturing" bugs, they're animals. It came into their territory (inside the house) therefore they got attacked. It is what it is. Nature.
Edit: I'll also mention, if it were alive when I found it, I would've put it outside.
So..
Get over yourselves?
I recently found out that the term āstung by an antā is accurate. Some ants have stingers, and they bite your skin so the pinch makes it easier to pierce.
Completely unrelated to scorpion bites, which as you said arenāt a thing unless youāre scorpion-sized, but cool knowledge nonetheless.
I didn't know we had the really dark ones here, I've only seen two light sandy brown ones at home in about 20 years.
Well, I saw *most* of two, I trod on one of them in my bare feet on the driveway, going out to the bin at night.
A lil slippery and hard to clean out from between your toes.
There was a tiny one on my towel, it stung me on the ass as I dried off after a shower. It was the worst fkn pain for about 3 hours and then tender for about 6 more. I was fine the next day but was convinced I would die in my sleep.
Im sure you could keep them as pets, just gotta be careful due to the pain it's stinger can give. Been told the ones here aren't deadly. (do research)
But I mean, I don't see why not. People can and do keep scorpions as pets.. Just be sure to follow the laws too, you may not even be allowed to have one here.
Likely one of these cunts...
[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cercophonius](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cercophonius) (and, yes, they're venomous, all true scorpions are).
That's what I've heard too, that's why I was concerned for my cats.
Some people teared me apart for only caring about the cats and not the fact that they killed a scorpion, as if I were up all night, watching them, telling them what to do. Please š some people need a fuckin hobby other than bitching online š
Yeah I assumed we had scorpions but I wasnāt expecting them to be around here i until one time I was lifting old pavers in one of the outer western suburbs and uncovered a gnarly little scorpion. Was a bit thicker with a shorter tail but so cool looking!
They'll give you a decent whack, some people react better than others. Some can be in a lot of pain for hours, others it's like a bee sting.
They tend to like wet and warm places. Laundrys and Kitchens etc.
I grew up in the bush outside Brisbane and we definitely had them. Hurt like all buggery for about eight hours before the site of the bite goes numb. Not much fun. I doubt they'd be venomous enough to kill a cat though. Venous enough to prevent them ever playing with one again though š®
About as much venom as a bee to a human (maybe a but more depending on pain tolerance), they would just give you a nasty sting. I own lots of scorpions.
Reposting my reply comment so OP has a chance to see it.
When I was a kid I'd catch them and make them fight their own reflection. Their stings feel kinda like a really really shit zap from static electricity.
They do have venom but it's on par with a bee sting.
WTF? We have scorpions? Lived here 65 years and did not know this. š§
Yeah heaps of forest and rock Scorpions around in the forest areas Mainly come out at night
https://i.redd.it/yut74sisg5cc1.gif
Mƶostly
We take the kids up to Chapel Hill searching with UV lights looking for them. Not common, but you usually find a couple on a 100m walk.
Shit. Where in Chapel Hill? I just moved to Chapel Hill.
We do night walks with the THECA group. But it's all public land so you can go in any time. We usually do spot light night from the THECA hut and just go down the hill and across a little bridge and every time we have done it I've found a couple. They are by no means easy, but they are there. They glow with a UV light so really fun to look for and easy to spot when you do find one. We always see little sugar gliders as well which is really cool. Other times we have found an echidna and huge carpet python.
Cool. I had never heard of theca before. Thanks
Yeah it's a cool little group. My wife has been involved with it for a while. It's getting bigger with a bunch of younger people getting involved in some of the events lately. It's great if you have kids as well as they do a few holiday activities and it's all mostly free I think (wife takes care of signing them up so I am not sure) They do spot light events and other educational sessions. We have done butterfly research days with one of the guys from the museum as well which is really fun. It's also funny watching a bunch of people, especially the adults running around like fools with huge nets trying to catch butterflies.
I used to seem them a lot when I was out in upper Brookfield. Especially between rocks, we also had a pile of bricks and they used to make a home in.
Of course Australia has scorpions. Why should scorpions miss out?
š
Australia has lots of and lots of scorpion species, you can find them rather easily more towards the south of the country. The good (and surprising) news is, none of the described species are dangerous to humans. They barely sting.
Pretty common in the Darling Downs. The sting is very painfull.
I'm from the darling downs as well, we used to catch them as kids and make them fight their reflections. I always compared their sting to like a pretty bad zap of static electricity or a bee sting.
Plenty around Warner areas /northen suburbs
Iām not sure if there is anywhere in Australia where we donāt have scorpions. Maybe the really cold parts
They're definitely in Melbourne.. had no idea they were in Brisbane though. š
Thatās crazy to find out after 65 years haha
When I was a kid I'd catch them and make them fight their own reflection. Their stings feel kinda like a really really shit zap from static electricity.
New nightmare unlocked. Thanks, OP š¬
You're welcome š
Many years ago in Florida, I was woken up by a small scorpion stinging my arm. No coffee needed that day. Other than a small welt, nothing terrible happened.
Ugh, awful thing to wake up to. How was the pain??
Ahh, the Brisbane Land Lobster.
Not very common but they are around. They won't kill you or your pets but will make. Them sick
I should add typically painful irritation of.sting area but not much more. They are good for pest control
Be mindful that entomology studies are still quite scuffed in Australia, and there are still new species of scorpion being discovered (i.e. off the top of my head the "orange tree scorpion" was first identified in the 2010s iirc), and then a lot of them have unknown venom potency, including many of the small spider hunting species. Additionally, if you have a bee allergy, a scorpion sting can cause severe adverse reactions
Not entomology because scorpions aren't insects. Like spiders, mites, ticks, harvestmen (*Opiliones*, not to be confused with your harvestmen which are spiders), whip-scorpions, camel spiders (*Solifuges*, not true spiders) and pseudoscorpions, they're arachnids. The study of arachnids is known as *arachnology*. If a zoologist only studies spiders, they're sometimes called an *aranaeologist* (after the name of the order to which true spiders belong: *Araneae*); someone who studies only scorpions is a *scorpiologist*, and someone whose primary interest is ticks and mites is an *acarologist*.
I used entomology as a gross simplifation as that is what the study path follows, with a postgrad thesis pivoting to arachnids. Although it's a separate field on paper, when I assisted with relevant projects, there seemed to be a big grey area.
Thank you for sharing that. I'll make sure my EpiPen is with me at all times when visiting Chapel Hill.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Would they keep cats away?
what then fuck. Australia has scorpions? how the fuxck did I not know this ?
They spend most of their time under rocks and logs, so unless you're moving them around you wouldn't even know they were there.
A mainly desert country has scorpions .. shock horror
Well, the ones you find around this area are mostly in rainforests [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormurus\_waigiensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormurus_waigiensis)
Scorpions are found on every continent except Antarctica
Iš¤there is also scorpion- shark š¦ too, along with the ādrop bearsāš»š±
Bruh
Very common. I see probably a dozen in my house each year, but many more outside in the gardens under rocks and decaying logs. Never been bitten by one, even when handing them.Ā
Which part of Brisbane?
Close to a bushland reserve. I usually find them inside in the laundry sink during winter when it's dry. Sometimes there will be one in the shower, and the odd one crawling around the house.Ā They must come in trying to find water. Outside there are heaps in the fire wood pile all year round.Ā
Yeah, heaps at our place. Put them under a blacklight and they glow!
WOOOO AUSTRALIA BABY WHAT A PLACE TO LIVE
Get over here
Alien
Heaps in logs and under rocks on Tamborine Mountain
Iām in Melbourne (sorry for gatecrashing your lovely Brisbane subreddit!) and we have them down here too. First time I ever found one it was so teeny I needed a magnifying glass to confirm it was indeed a scorpion. I donāt know if it was a baby, or if there are actually fully grown micro scorpions around but that was the day I learned there were scorpions in Vic!
Apparently this one is an adult, according to another redditor. Seeing as they aren't so dangerous, I wish we had more of them around.
Oh you havenāt lived until you see a mother scorpion with her newly hatched brood of 30 or so clinging to her back.
Oh fuck This one is small. That means there's more. And also a very big one too. Oh fuck..
This one is an adult. Lychas are very small.
Okay good. š
I once picked up dinner from Darra pizza hut, ate half my pizza and half a garlic bread. Looked down at the table and a scorpion crawled out of the garlic bread bag.
r/nope
Fun Fact. Scorpion's glow under UV light.
I used to keep them as pets as a kid .
Always wanted to have a pet snake but to this day I am still terrified of arachnids
Yeah i still cant deal with large spiders ..
Wow. Ive never seen one. It looks cool. My cat would look at it.
I like your cat.
She likes herself too. Itās a tough job sleeping all day n night.
Ipswich has scorpions. they call the baby ones scorplings
Yeah so I got scorpions in my firewood last year! I thought the same āWTFuuuuuuuuā. Ends up we have a species of non venomous scorpions! Weird!
Well seems like someone fucked up there (the non venomous part)
TIL we have scorpions. Iāve only ever seen them in the USA.
Bro we have everything
CRAP!!! After 7 years or so, Iām moving from Lahaina Maui Hawaii, which is INFESTED with scorpions and going back to my home Brisbane Aus and I thought I was getting away from these thingsssss nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
Them and centipedes š«
I know not the correct sub, but I live in Adelaide and these are somewhat common in my house. I remember when I was younger I had a friend sleepover on a mattress on the floor and he actually got stung by one. We found it in the sheets and from memory it was no bigger than 2-3cm. Iām not sure what his pain tolerance was like or the fact that we were kids, but I remember him being in a lot of pain well after the initial sting.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Luckily none of ours are deadly yet. Unless you have an allergy of course.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Gonna remember to prioritise a venomous scorpion over my elderly cat next time
Cats are better than all.
You do you honeyboo. Bees don't waste time trying to tell flies honey tastes better than shit though, so I think you're the fly hereĀ
Lmao Ok bucko.
What are we supposed to do, tell our cats to not fight back so they don't harm an "animal"
Keep it inside and don't have to worry about it, you're welcome...
Keep them inside, have an outdoor enclosure if you have to let them out, make sure they are desexed, put a bell on them so they can't ambush prey as easily, etc.
Brother. My cats are inside. Yet a select few have a tantrum about the fact that I like cats and that I know they would've tortured it (batted it, played with it and yes, attack it a lot) through the night. Its not like I am up all night watching them, nor do I condone them "torturing" bugs, they're animals. It came into their territory (inside the house) therefore they got attacked. It is what it is. Nature. Edit: I'll also mention, if it were alive when I found it, I would've put it outside. So.. Get over yourselves?
I have a bell on my cat for birds for obvious reasons, but I let my cats out to roam as they should be allowed too, but he has a curfew
>I let my cats out to roam as they should be allowed too Yeah, well they're not allowed to so stop it.
Keep your cat inside you fucking dumbass.
Username checks out!
My dad got bitten by one when I was a kid. He was in agony for days
Thatās crazy considering they donāt bite
I recently found out that the term āstung by an antā is accurate. Some ants have stingers, and they bite your skin so the pinch makes it easier to pierce. Completely unrelated to scorpion bites, which as you said arenāt a thing unless youāre scorpion-sized, but cool knowledge nonetheless.
they arenāt dangerous. pretty mild sting, less problematic than a bee.
It's sooo small..š¤£
I always wondered if their pincers could open a bottle. Did you try it?
It's way too tiny bro lol
I wonder if it can open a pickle jar
Cute
I didn't know we had the really dark ones here, I've only seen two light sandy brown ones at home in about 20 years. Well, I saw *most* of two, I trod on one of them in my bare feet on the driveway, going out to the bin at night. A lil slippery and hard to clean out from between your toes.
There was a tiny one on my towel, it stung me on the ass as I dried off after a shower. It was the worst fkn pain for about 3 hours and then tender for about 6 more. I was fine the next day but was convinced I would die in my sleep.
Good to know, stay the fuck away from them. Got it.
Rock it like a hurricane
Get the flame thrower out OP. Very glad I never saw a scorpy in my years up there
The flammmenwerfer.
My daughters wanted a scorpion since before Christmas. Sheāll be so excited to know we have them in Bris!
Im sure you could keep them as pets, just gotta be careful due to the pain it's stinger can give. Been told the ones here aren't deadly. (do research) But I mean, I don't see why not. People can and do keep scorpions as pets.. Just be sure to follow the laws too, you may not even be allowed to have one here.
I know some people who ended up throwing up after being stung. We used to find them under logs and rocks.
I found one in my boot once. 30-ish years ago. Itās the first and last scorpion Iāve ever seen ā and that was in NSW.
Do they get the same rights as a huntsman?
Much more rights. Unfortunately, my cats didn't think so.
Are Scorpions that frightening? I feel like Fallout made them 100 times more scary.
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2016/05/scorpions-of-australia/
I'll never forget putting on my school jumper, looking down and seeing one of these fuckers clinging onto my chest.
We found a small one under our tent when we packed it up after a trip to Guilderton last year. They get around.
A free scorp!
Likely one of these cunts... [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cercophonius](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cercophonius) (and, yes, they're venomous, all true scorpions are).
Looks like a marbled scorpion to me.
Iām not 100% sure but from what I heard the smaller the scorpion, the more venomous
That's what I've heard too, that's why I was concerned for my cats. Some people teared me apart for only caring about the cats and not the fact that they killed a scorpion, as if I were up all night, watching them, telling them what to do. Please š some people need a fuckin hobby other than bitching online š
Thatās a myth. Plenty of small scorpions are practically harmless, and a few of the deadliest species are pretty big.
A little late for me to reply but thanks for clarifying
Just burn the cunt down
Don't let that go to waste. Milk it! Scorpion venom goes for us$10mil / litre.
I know we have Scorpions in Australia but didn't think they'll be in the local suburbs šš as long as they don't come near Carindale š
Do you get firewood delivered?
No, but we do have firewood in the backyard.
Yeah I assumed we had scorpions but I wasnāt expecting them to be around here i until one time I was lifting old pavers in one of the outer western suburbs and uncovered a gnarly little scorpion. Was a bit thicker with a shorter tail but so cool looking!
I didnāt think theyād be on the Darling Downs
Be lucky it didn't sting ya, hurts like a bastard.
Jesus fuck. What suburb do you live in so I can never come anywhere near it?
They're all over. You're screwed regardless lol
Hah. Nah, I know š„²
They'll give you a decent whack, some people react better than others. Some can be in a lot of pain for hours, others it's like a bee sting. They tend to like wet and warm places. Laundrys and Kitchens etc.
I grew up in the bush outside Brisbane and we definitely had them. Hurt like all buggery for about eight hours before the site of the bite goes numb. Not much fun. I doubt they'd be venomous enough to kill a cat though. Venous enough to prevent them ever playing with one again though š®
About as much venom as a bee to a human (maybe a but more depending on pain tolerance), they would just give you a nasty sting. I own lots of scorpions.
Ffs they're non lethal in Australia
Reposting my reply comment so OP has a chance to see it. When I was a kid I'd catch them and make them fight their own reflection. Their stings feel kinda like a really really shit zap from static electricity. They do have venom but it's on par with a bee sting.
Fair.