FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Have you ever thought about why scorpions were exclusively found in the West? Consider it again. There is a scorpion that prefers a more tropical environment than most of its relatives, the southern devil scorpion. The southern devil scorpion (Vaejovis carolinianus) is one of the few scorpions endemic to the southeastern United States. This scorpion species is also known as the southern unstriped scorpion. Their populations can be located in significant numbers in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Kentucky as their preferred habitat is rocky areas alongside ponds and lakes.
Here are some interesting facts on the devil scorpion for your perusal. Afterward, do check our other articles on striped bark scorpion and emperor scorpion.
The southern devil scorpion, sometimes known as the southern unstriped scorpion, is a species of scorpion of the Vaejovidae family.
Scorpions are classified as arachnids, from class Arachnida, which implies they have eight legs, unlike insects who have only six. Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Kentucky are the regions where their population is concentrated.
There are about 2,000 southern devil scorpion species, but only 30 or 40 contain poison potent enough to kill a person. The many varieties of venom, on the other hand, are efficiently fitted to their users' lives and are highly selected for efficacy against that species intended prey.
Southern devil scorpions prefer to live outdoors like crumbling stone and brick foundations. These scorpions may, however, survive (and flourish) indoors in places that are moist or humid, such as bathrooms, kitchens (near the sink), or in a laundry room, especially if these desert dwellers can locate sufficient prey. Vaejovis carolinianus is an upland scorpion that ranges from the Ohio River in northern Kentucky, USA, through the inner Coastal Plain of Alabama and, east or west, through the Fall Zone of South Carolina and Georgia to eastern Mississippi and west-central Tennessee.
Like the striped bark scorpions, these scorpions are typically found outside behind the loose bark of trees and logs, as well as under logs and stones on the ground. These love woodpiles, crumbling stone, and brick foundations.
Southern devil scorpions, like other scorpions, live alone. That is, these native scorpions live and hunt independently of other members of their species, and they do not establish cooperative couples, nests, or hives. This pest scorpion doesn't mind living with close neighbors, and if you locate one, you might be able to locate others nearby.
A southern devil scorpion can live up to two years.
The male and female grasp each other's claws and dance during mating. A few months after mating, females can give birth to 25-80 young one at a time.
The conservation status of the southern devil scorpion has not been listed by the IUCN. It is assumed that their population is stable across their habitat.
Southern devil scorpions have a segmented body that is linked to the head in a wide manner. The head has eyes and one set of powerful pinchers (also called pedipalps). The body is divided into two sections: a large front segment with eight legs (four pairs) and a much thinner long tail that extends from the back of the body.
They are average looking but on a sunny beach when they are seen running they look cute.
Southern devil scorpions to find out who's who in an enclosure, pheromones and vibrations are used. This is still true for tiny people who aren't sexually mature. I'm not sure about the visual element because scorpions, especially those of the bigger burrowing species, have poor eyesight.
A southern devil scorpion is six times the length of the world’s smallest scorpion, the Caribbean Microtityus fundorai, which is 0.5 in (1.27 cm).
A southern devil scorpion can travel at speeds of up to 12 mph (19.3 kph).
The southern devil scorpion's range of weight is around 0.3 oz (0.008 kg).
There are no specific names for male and female southern devil scorpions. They are known as males and females respectively.
There is no specific name for a baby southern devil scorpion.
Spiders and other big insects are the southern devil scorpion's natural prey. The stinger on the abdomen's tip, or tail, is used to inject poison and kill spiders.
Animals like tarantulas, lizards, and red-tailed hawks prey on scorpions as part of their diet.
The southern devil scorpion sting isn't deadly but the venom still packs a punch.
The southern devil scorpion is often so aggressive that they are often considered inveterate cannibals. Southern devil scorpions stinger is something that you got to be careful about as it is used by these pests to inject venom in the victim. You can get this species as a pet only after acquiring adequate knowledge on southern devil scorpion care.
Light-colored young scorpions are delicate and spend around four weeks on their mother's back before molting.
They next lose their exoskeleton in exchange for a larger, more robust one, and once the process is complete, they leave their mother.
They are most active at temperatures above 77 F (25 C) and are slow at lower temperatures.
Southern devil scorpions are attracted to flies and small insects because they are their main food and prey. These pests are drawn to homes that provide food for them to consume. Scorpions may flee if these pests cannot locate prey and their diet consists mostly of insects. Termites may also attract scorpions when these pests feed on this wood-eating insect.
The deathstalker scorpion species is one of the most dangerous and rarest species of scorpions. The species southern devil scorpion is the largest in North America and the third-largest in the world. A southern devil scorpion can be risky but can be kept at home as a pet, but the deathstalker never gives the option for that.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods from our water beetle facts and darkling beetle facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our Southern Devil Scorpion coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.