Urodacus novaehollanidae

[Mark Newton]

OOPS _posted TWICE!! Apologies.

Some environmental notes and a couple of individuals.

Dug out a couple of U novaehollandiae today. First 2 shots show the burrow entrance under some rotten wood. Soil is a shell grit soil as this is very close to the beach and only about 7m elevation above sea level. I took burrow depth measurements and soil temperature readings. I also took soil samples to calculate soil water content, but havent made those calculations as yet.

Moderately warm day at about 30C air temp.
Ground surface temp was 47C
Burrows had terminal chambers between 32cm and 40cm below the surface.
Terminal chamber soil temperature was between 23-27C...perfect conditions for a scorpion.

Both individuals appear to be female, one is definitely adult female, the other is a penultimate female instar I'd say at a guess.

 

[Brian S]

How much rain does that area get each year just out of curiosity?

 

[Mark Newton]

Hi Brian

The area receives 300-400mm per year.


SOIL water content measurements AT THE BURROW BASE.
For nearing the end of the hot/dry season the measurements are quite high. The soil has a large organic content nearer the surface which diminishes farther down. Darker near the surface anmd much lighter in the inorganic shell grit section.

The scorpion located at 32cm was in the highly organic dark soil. This has a water content of about 6.5%. The scorpion located at 40cm was in light coloured inorganic soil. This had a water content of about 8.5%, quite a bit higher, which surprised me, although it is deeper down, so in many respects not surprising. I was expecting the organic layer to have more water. With particles in the soil being large the matric tension of the soil will be low meaning the burrow should show a high humidity.

 

[H. cyaneus]

I really like this genus of scorpions. Reading some of your posts it sounds like it's hard to keep these though?

Mike

 

[Mark Newton]

I really like this genus of scorpions. Reading some of your posts it sounds like it's hard to keep these though?

Mike

Hi MIke

It isnt difficult once you come to terms with using a sealed off container. Obligate fossorial burrowers....they are used to tight environmental conditions. Dry air kills them in a short time. Our rock dwelling semi-fossorial obligate burrowers are far more tolerant. Much like frogs are reliant to one extent or another on water, so are our scorpions. They all need high humidity for birthing and ecdysis.