Scorpions Melbourne Vic. 3070

[WhatTheHeck]

Hey everyone,
was suggested to move my post here.
Looking for some scorps in the wild here in melbourne Australia and was wondering if anyone had any experience. Would like to get out and take some nature shots if possible. Was suggested that i get a black like. I assume a flashlight, so suggestions of where i could find one of those here in the city would be great as well. So thank you in advance.
Jeremy

 

[tabor]

have you tried this site? most people outside of Australia know little about Aussie species as, well, we can't have them. There are plenty of native scorpions to keep you occupied, including many Lychas and Urodacus. The species list on the site contains the distribution for many of the species, which will help you out.

http://www.thedailylink.com/thespiralburrow/

As for where to get the light, I have no idea. If you have enough time search eBay for LED UV flashlights, they cover a wide range of prices/power.

Something to think about, I dont know if hunting scorpion at night is a great idea. Forgive my ignorence, but is the area surrounding Melbourne "desert-y"? Deserts are the most effective places to use UV lights. In more forest/jungle type settings they tend to stay hidden under bark, etc.

One final note on collecting scorpion at night: although they flouresce, other possibly dangerous animals (snakes, spiders) like the same places scorps do. So while you might be able to easily spot a scorp on a moonless night, it's pretty risky if there is a sizeable population of other venomous creatures in the area.

I would try looking during the day before moving on to the UV-ing method. My best success looking in wooded areas has been during broad daylight, and just checking the places they like to hide (under logs, in between the barks of trees, etc). Be careful though, it's not the scorpions you have to worry about.

 

[WhatTheHeck]

thank tabor,

Just checking out that site now. pending the library here will let me view it. i know there are quite a few species here but as i have no transport past a bicycle (just moved here) i will have to stick with things inside the city area.
i am told there are 3 species right here within the city.
As well i am aware of the danger of australias wilderness, i was just joking with a friend that reaching around a tree in the dark for scorpions, scorpions stinging me would be the least of my worries. But yes i think i will try my hand during the day the first a few times, just get to know where to look. i was hoping someone here might be from Oz and know that, eg the base of the red gum tree is your best bet, or some advice like that. but yeah, i will check out ebay.com.au here (every site here is the same addy, just add a ".au") and see what i can find. thanks
JEremy

 

[ashisnothereman]

go to thegreenscorpion.com.au/forum..

australian invertibrates forum you will get bucket fulls of information there and you can buy blacklights and scorps. blacklights give of a bluish light that causes most scorpions to 'glow' a distinctive blue. i just find if you lift up a rock and shine the torch youll see the scorpion instantly.

sorry if i broke any rules saying that, but that website is a great resource for your question.

the australian bush is fine at dark, just know where you are, keep to trails, dont get lost and dont go alone. yes australia has a lot of venomous snakes and spiders but i rarely come across snakes and when i do thats during the day lol.

hope this helps.

 

[tabor]

personally i'd be more worried about the swine flu than snakes if I live in Melbourne right now.

 

[ashisnothereman]

LOL!

swine flu = overrated

 

[pandinus]

I'll never forget my first blacklighting experience in the desert. It was with Kugellager and Skinheaddave in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and i was given the best advice regarding blacklighting by John, "Look for snakes, you won't need to look for the scorpions." pretty much always keep an eye out for snakes spiders, etc. the scorpions will stick out like a sore thumb, and you wont really have to look very closely to discern them. so far i've been lucky enough to avoid any snakes, but this methodology has saved me from getting a nasty pede bite or wasp sting about a thousand times. if in the desert, flipping rocks can work to your advantage, but what also helps a great deal is to look around the bases of scrub brush and vegetation. A lot of your scorpions out there in australia from what i understand are largely obligate fossorials, so many will chill out at a burrows entrance around dusk. But you will also have lots of opportunistic, or "bark scorpions" as well as surely some psalmophilic and lithophilic species.



John

 

[pandinus]

BTW @ john or dave, do you still have any pics of your guys's blacklight rigs from that year? they were a trip! lol




john

 

[Nomadinexile]

A49

I don't know if i mentioned this on other side, but I have an a49 BL. 49 390nm
5mm leds. Works great. Snake advice is good advice up there. I almost stepped on a 5 foot Eastern Diamonback Rattlesnake near langtry, tx. I see a lot of snakes at dusk. Oh, and I don't know about the other side of the planet, but we have had better luck personally in local desert in the first couple dark hours after sunset. That may have more to do with weather or something else, but I thought it's worth sharing. Ryan

 

[pandinus]

also dont even bother going on a full moon on a clear night. overcast or new moons are the best nights to go, as they are darkest, and the scorpions will be more active.



john

 

[Nomadinexile]

You sure? :O)

I agree with that if you are in the desert. But if you are in a forest, it shouldn't matter. I went out this last full moon and had a great night (for me here anyway!). I still found some in moonlight too. *it may be that I am too inexperienced and have just gotten lucky on moonlit nights. But I would say try anyway. Peace, Ryan

also dont even bother going on a full moon on a clear night. overcast or new moons are the best nights to go, as they are darkest, and the scorpions will be more active.



john