Texas Scorpion Hunting

[Keith]

I just got my new LED blacklight flashlight today and am planning to give scorpion hunting a try. I have read that C. Vittatus is a common species where I live. There is a reserve of woods where I live filled with trees, creeks, fallen leaves, ground cover, logs, rocks, tall grass and weeds. The problem is that I don't know where to begin to find this species. Do I just scan the ground? Are they on the trees? Do I need to flip rocks and logs? Do I need to be near or away from the creek? Will I have to search through the tall grass and weeds? Any advice would be helpful.

 

[PIter]

It says here that it is a climber, as these people know what thier talking about search the trees.


Trees
Peter

 

[Eurypterid]

"Climber" is a relative term when talking about scorpions. While you can find them on trees, I'd still spend most of my time searching the places you mentioned before. They will still spend most of their time on or near the ground.

 

[darrelldlc]

I find most of the C vitattus under rocks during the day with some humidity under it. By night they can be found crawling on the ground, in grass, or above ground in small shrubs. The LED light works very well for them, but some shy and run from it so be ready with capture devices. Hopefully you'll find some diplocentrus as well. Happy hunting.
Darrell.

 

[redhourglass]

Hello Keith,

My first comments go to safety ! Take to most precautions while in the field be it the DFW metroplex or elsewhere.

Second, have a cell phone with you and contacts provided in case a situation happens and in addition have a collecting partner.

and third... C. vittatus can be found in the field and or home when you don't expect it. UV Led lights are a tool but protocals in safety are more so.

Diplocentrus are found the Trans-Pecos region of TX and in addiiton to D. diablo further south along the Rio Grande.

All the best,

Sinc. Chad

 

[ScorpDude]

don't you think its a bit cruel taking a wild animal and caging it? i mean captive breds, that all they have known, and so live well in captivity, but taking things from the wild and keeping them as pets is just wrong.

 

[Keith]

don't you think its a bit cruel taking a wild animal and caging it? i mean captive breds, that all they have known, and so live well in captivity, but taking things from the wild and keeping them as pets is just wrong.

I'm not concerned with the scorpions "feelings". It is much cheaper to catch wild scorpions where I live than it is to buy captive bred scorpions. Also, if I decide to breed my wild caught scorpions, then I am effectively helping the survival of a species. In captivity, my scorpions are subjected to ideal living conditions. There are no adverse weather conditions as there are in the wild. No possibility of predators, cold weather casualties, drowning, etc.

 

[carpe scorpio]

don't you think its a bit cruel taking a wild animal and caging it? i mean captive breds, that all they have known, and so live well in captivity, but taking things from the wild and keeping them as pets is just wrong.

We are only making sure that they live "the good life", like when someone wins the lottery and never has to work again.

 

[Keith]

We are only making sure that they live "the good life", like when someone wins the lottery and never has to work again.

LOL! Well put.

 

[skinheaddave]

don't you think its a bit cruel taking a wild animal and caging it? i mean captive breds, that all they have known, and so live well in captivity, but taking things from the wild and keeping them as pets is just wrong.

First of all, 99% of scorpions in the trade are wild caught, even those that are sold as "captive bred." Secondly, scorpions are not a species that are easily subjected to negative population pressure. They are surface minimalists so even if you collected every single specimen you found in a night you wouldn't even dint most populations. Lastly, scorpions don't "know" things like whether their square foot of territory is in the wilds of Texas or in a box. Provided they have everything they need and can carry out their life functions, there is really nothing wrong with capturing them.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[carpe scorpio]

LOL! Well put.

Thanks, I'm very certain that my A. bicolors are safer in my tank, than out in the Sinai being traumatized by tanks, jeeps, mortars etc.. I hate to think of the untold scorpion deaths caused by the "1967 war" alone.

 

[PIter]

First of all, 99% of scorpions in the trade are wild caught, even those that are sold as "captive bred." Secondly, scorpions are not a species that are easily subjected to negative population pressure. They are surface minimalists so even if you collected every single specimen you found in a night you wouldn't even dint most populations. Lastly, scorpions don't "know" things like whether their square foot of territory is in the wilds of Texas or in a box. Provided they have everything they need and can carry out their life functions, there is really nothing wrong with capturing them.

Cheers,
Dave

Words of wisdom, well put Dave.

Words of wisdom.
Peter

 

[redhourglass]

Hello,

Your post is well intent but the a reality is that more C. vittatus are stomped or killed by home owners and an state certified pest control operator(s).

C. vittatus are common across many borders and any negative factors of population communities will be null.

Take Care,

Sinc. Chad

don't you think its a bit cruel taking a wild animal and caging it? i mean captive breds, that all they have known, and so live well in captivity, but taking things from the wild and keeping them as pets is just wrong.

 

[Stormcrow]

Well cared for captive wild caught scorpions do not suffer at all, save for the quagmire of this glass/plastic/acrylic barrier they keep engaging through out their nocturnal lurking. Often discover them trying to find a way over or around these walls to further their wanderings. Eventually retiring for the evening, until the next moonrise.