panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
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Post by panamark on Sept 9, 2013 18:42:17 GMT -5
Leiurus quinquestriatus aka " Deathstalker"  Oh crap, now I will never sleep thinking I feel something crawling across me, LOL. One that really does freak me a bit in Panama is the arthropod that looks like spider but with tightly folded legs. It is a primitive spider that catches it's prey with it's jaws. It moves REALLY fast. I mean faster than I can walk for a short burst. Scott what is the name of it? Related to horseshoe crab. I am getting too forgetful! Anyway, it actually runs at you when it first sees you and it is faster than any mouse! I read they are fairly harmless, but it scares the beegeebbers out of me every time I go into the bodega. Scott, so the smaller scorpions in Panama too actually hurt worse? |
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Sabre52
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Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 9, 2013 18:55:43 GMT -5
I understand the Harvester Ant native to Arizona is the most toxic of them all ( Pogonomyrex maricopa). Supposedly six stings can kill a two pound mammal.
Mark, You're probably talking about Solpugids. In my book those are the grossest of the arthropods. Not poisonous, but nasty nippers. n the Americas, I think its the smaller scorpions that are the most toxic, mostly in the Centruroides group. Arizona bark scorpion is a baddie. Our Striped bark Scorpion stings hurt but are not too awful....Mel
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 9, 2013 20:50:21 GMT -5
I told y'all about the desert hairy scorpion that I kept in my bathroom years ago? When it died, I cast it in resin. Didn't do a very good job of it, but you get the idea. This is the bottom.   The stinger  Topside. I made in about a dozen pours, but added too much catalyst, and the heat cracked it.  And while I was at it, a black widow. This one did not die of natural causes. This is the flat bottom, it was a large one.  And lastly, the domed top. These have gotten a bit worse over time, were probably done 25-30 years ago.  Okay, enough bugs for me. |
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ash
spending too much on rocks
Prairieville, Louisiana
Member since July 2012
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Post by ash on Sept 10, 2013 1:07:15 GMT -5
That is a big widow! I have read, somewhere or another, that the smaller the pincers on a scorpion, the more toxic the sting. I actually think sweat bees hurt worse than the other bees, maybe worse than a wasp. you guys already know my big baddie from way back when i was a kid, Velvet Ant! I still remember that sting!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 10, 2013 7:09:49 GMT -5
I never knew scorpions get so large. Widows too. Maybe the winters in colder areas has an effect on keeping their size down Jean.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 10, 2013 8:54:42 GMT -5
Ash, I've heard that said about the size of the pincers (or even the entire animal) being an indicator of danger level. Smaller pincers, watch out!
You are probably right about that, James. We get just a handful of nights that get below freezing here, and the desert a few more than that. But it never lasts for a week or month (or several months!) straight, like some of you put up with. Don't think I could handle that. If they can overwinter, they have that much more time to grow.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 10:16:29 GMT -5
Leiurus quinquestriatus aka " Deathstalker" Oh crap, now I will never sleep thinking I feel something crawling across me, LOL. Well, don't buy one in a pet store, nor sleep in the deserts of the middle east. You'll be fine. Tailless whip scorpions! Amblypygi!!  Outside the USA I would look more at the claws than the size. If the claws are long and gracile then assume dangerous venom. If they are large and lobster like, probably not strong venom. Not perfect but pretty good. Weak slender claws need strong venom to stop the prey but lobster claws can kill prey without any venom. It's a general trend and not perfect. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 10:20:25 GMT -5
This is for Jim. It's not a toe biter. It's a turtle biter!  |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 10, 2013 10:21:52 GMT -5
Or you can just be safe, and avoid them all! In the scheme of things, where does a vinegaroon fit in? Is it a solpugid? Those things are only slightly less freaky-looking than the Jerusalem crickets (shudder).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 10:24:02 GMT -5
Mel may be right. Solpugids or "wind scorpions" or "camel spiders" may also be kinda scary. Actually they are a modified scorpion, the claws reduced to "jaws". Chalicerae really.    I had never seen the last one before. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 10:25:33 GMT -5
Or you can just be safe, and avoid them all! In the scheme of things, where does a vinegaroon fit in? Is it a solpugid? Those things are only slightly less freaky-looking than the Jerusalem crickets (shudder). Vinegaroon = WhipScorpion they spray predators with vinegar to make them let go. Self defense. They crush insects with the claws to eat them.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 10:29:10 GMT -5
I love this thread! lol
I have field collected, bought/sold, and/or kept every one of these animals mentioned today! Interesting creatures. In Costa Rica we found a tailless whip scorpion at an old fort. I handed it to my friend and if jumped from my hand to his face! Landed vertically claws extended from his jaw, hind feet on his forehead, it was huuuuuuge!
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
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Post by Fossilman on Sept 10, 2013 10:30:52 GMT -5
Fire ants can kick butt,been bit by them! The worst bites I ever had was "hornets".I was about five years old,stepped into a nest of them in the woods in Montana,ended up in the hospital with several hundred stings,was in for three days or so(I remember a bit of the situation)One-they hurt like hell,two-they could travel as fast as I could run,three-I had to sleep in a recliner type chair with pillows all around me,till the swellings went down,four- I hate the dang things now!
Yes,I swell up after I get stung now,no matter if its a spider bite or bee(off to the hospital for treatment)!!!The only bee I will leave alone is the "Honey bee".the others die,after I'm done with them!!!
The Docs told Mom and Dad that I had a tough interior,because I was close to being a very sick kid..
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 10:38:27 GMT -5
Well, Mike nice post. I hesitate to put "thumbs up" because I dont want you to think I am happy about your pain. several hundred stings? Hospital? That sux.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 10, 2013 11:51:49 GMT -5
Look what i found .jpg) |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Sept 10, 2013 11:57:26 GMT -5
You are in heaven aren't you Scott. You may be amazed at fossil insects if you have not studied them already. I noticed that a dragon fly had 30 inch wing span.( x 6)
So, on of those 5 inch scorpions could be 30 inches long.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
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Post by panamark on Sept 10, 2013 13:04:02 GMT -5
>Tailless whip scorpions! Amblypygi!!
That is exactly the scary creature I was talking about! Scott, your breadth of knowledge on these things is really amazing!
Also good to know about the pincer size general rule of thumb. BTW Scott, my near neighbor in Panama is a retired herpetologist (UNC) and he just sent me a picture of a true coral snake he caught on his property.
Those Solpugids are sure creepy looking!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 14:35:38 GMT -5
>Tailless whip scorpions! Amblypygi!! That is exactly the scary creature I was talking about! Scott, your breadth of knowledge on these things is really amazing! Also good to know about the pincer size general rule of thumb. BTW Scott, my near neighbor in Panama is a retired herpetologist (UNC) and he just sent me a picture of a true coral snake he caught on his property. Those Solpugids are sure creepy looking!! Mark, it was my job to know these things! We were (he still is) the most successful reptile store with 50 miles because of our wide ranging line of products. I collected potato bugs from my yard and sold them for $5! When the junior highs did their entomology projects (10 species of insects) they came to us. For no other reason than parents allowed their kids to be lazy. So, I pre-made 10-15-20 species collections and sold them for $40-60-80. The kids alway bought the 20 kits because it made them a better grade and their friends were envious! I made about $1000 pocket money every year for my share of the kits! All because parents allow their kids to be stupid lazy slugs. I used to have more adult beverages back then. I guess I used to trade bugz for beers! lol Many species of "true" coral snake in Panama. Perhaps even three in your yards. Probably Micrurus nigrocinctus we saw a ton of those in Costa Roca near the Oso.  I wonder if I know your neighbor! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 14:38:15 GMT -5
Plus tailless whip scorpions are SUPER common in Central America. Like crickets in the USA. It was easy to find 200 a night if we would have tried.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2013 14:47:07 GMT -5
What insect can overwhelm you like fire ants. Is that your hand Scott? I very rarely get bit/stung/envenomated by anything. Never by a snake. First I spend way too much time indoors. But when I am outdoors my hunter's eyes see many things. Especially danger. I was probably prey in a prior life aqnd learned my lesson. Last night I was grocery shopping with wifey and a thunder storm rolled (literally spinning rolling clouds) thru. On the way out with the basket of food we had to walk way around a huge flag pole because I could feel the static electricity on my arms and neck. She was upset I was going so far around in the rain and when asked said she did not feel the static at all. I demanded her to follow me. 20+ years now, she has learned, she did follow. Loaded up the car, got in and began our drive home. Almost at once, lightening struck a streetlamp pole about 100 yards away. She believes me now. hehe |
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