Creepy crawlies week – it’s all about the Drakensberg creeper
Scorpions feed on other small insects, specially millipedes, which make them a valuable addition to the garden.
THE Drakensberg creeper is a scorpion commonly found in KwaZulu-Natal.
In spite of its English name, it is also common in the Durban area where it seems to favour living in damp coastal forests.
“I often find these medium-sized scorpions in the coastal forest of the Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve. They grow to a maximum size of about 9cm, which includes the full length of the tail. They are mildly venomous, but the venom is of no real consequence to humans or pets. A sting from this scorpion is about as painful as a bee sting. They feed on other small insects, specially millipedes, which make them a valuable addition to the garden,” Warren Dick said.
Interesting scorpion facts:
• A scorpion is not an insect, but rather an arachnid, in the same family as spiders, ticks and even mites.
• All scorpions glow under ultraviolet light, making them easy to find at night with the help of an ultraviolet torch.
• Most scorpions do a fancy and intricate mating dance before mating.
• Unlike most other arachnids, scorpions give live birth and they are excellent mothers. Soon after birth the baby scorpions will crawl onto the mothers back, where they will stay and be protected until they have fully digested their egg yolk and had their first molt, at which point they will usually move off. However, some species of scorpions are known to look after their young for as long as two years, even hunting food for them.
Scorpions are stingy with their venom. Just like snakes, they can control how much venom they inject into their prey or in self defence.
“Considering their venom has multiple different chemicals, which take a lot of energy and nutrients to make, it’s no wonder they use it sparingly,” he added.
Contact Warren to have some of your interesting insects, snakes or spiders identified, call or WhatsApp him on 072 211 0353.
Follow the conversation on Facebook, Warren’s Small World.
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