IN A LETTER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 66, 20 April 1943, Page 7

IN A LETTER

BABY SCORPION FOUND

VISITOR FROM ISLANDS

A resident of New Plymouth received a surprise Avhen a looking scorpion dropped out of a letter received recently from a sol-' dier in the South-west Pacific. The baby scorpion, which is about hal f-an-inch long, is one of 200 spec-, ics which inhabit warm countries in both hemispheres. It has four pairs of walking legs and two tenacious pincers, with which it grips it. prey. The. most striking feature of this insect is the abdomen, consisting of Visegmcnts:, of which five form a narrow tail that is- curled over the back when the creature runs. The tail, the most formidable part of the body, ends in a sting, con-: taining a paired gland from which the. poison Hows. When the scorpion strikes it suddenly straightens the tail, bringing the point, usually upturned, down sharply. It can also bend the sting forward to poison an insect held in its claws. During the daytime the scorpion shelters under stones and in ices-, but at night comes out to seek its prey. Insects and spiders form the main part of its diet. These arc stung and then sucked. The scorpion, however, does, not poison cither itself or any other of t|i.e species. Sensitive to Sound' •When bringing her young out into the open the mother scorpion shelf- 1 ers them under her body, or carries them about wiJth her. The scorpion xvlicn alarmed or irritated shows some fierceness, moving its tail threatingly. Another interesting fact is that this creature is very sensitive to sound, musical or otherwise. Universally disliked, and not a little dreaded, they hide, in beds pillows, shoes and other articles, so that accidents are very frequent in countries Avhere they abound. Their sting is seldom fatal, but is; very painful, and the' sting of the largest species is much more severe.