- English: Common Yellow Scorpion
- Spanish: Escorpión común o amarillo
- Scientific: Buthus occitanus
- French: Scorpion Jaune Languedocien
- German: Feldskorpion
- Italian: Euscorpius
- Portuguese: Escorpião
Description
Adult Spanish yellow scorpion – Buthus occitanus – Escorpión común o amarillo can measure 8 cm long (12 to 15cm with the tail extended). They have eight legs and two pincers (pedipalps). The tail is segmented, ending in a pale brown spur.
Habitat
They live in arid and rocky habitats, during the day staying hidden under stones in hot areas such as open scrub land. They are active during the warmer months when they come out at night to hunt for arthropods (insects and arachnids) injecting paralyzing venom from their terminal sting. They have great climbing skills and be found on walls and ceilings.
Breeding
When breeding, the male and female grasp each other’s pedipalps and spin in circles for several minutes. After this movement the male deposits sperm into a bag of soil that is subsequently gathered up by the female.
The yellow scorpion sting is painful but with mild toxic effects, though it can be dangerous to small animals, children, the elderly and people with allergies to animal stings.
If you are stung the advised treatment is to visit a doctor as soon as possible, who can apply a serum, and to take anti-histamines. (The yellow scorpion in Africa has a much more toxic venom)
Iberia Nature Forum
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I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain.