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by matt
(fallbrook CA usa)

It is a small scorpion about 2-2 1/2 inches long with its tail laying straight backwards. It is a really dark brown almost black and its underside is tannish color with eight spots.

Drought Smart Plants reply:

Based on your description, your scorpion could be one of only a couple of species. There are many different types, but only a few that are classed as tailless.

I’m no scorpion expert, as they prefer dry, but warm climates, and no long periods of cold weather such as we get in Canada.

Here is what my book about insects and spiders says: (National Audubon Society, Field Guide to Insects & Spiders):

“Eremobatid Windscorpions:
Most North American windscorpions belong to this family of medium-sized arachnids, 15-45mm long (3/8-1 ¾ Inches) long. They differ from the only other North American family, Ammotrechnidae, in having a straight front of the head and 1-2 claws on the first pair of legs, rather than a rounded or pointed head and no claws. Adults usually live only a few months, all are found in the West, particularly in the Southwest.

Pale Windscorpion: (Eremobates pallipes)

Description: Male (15-26mm) Female (22-32mm). Yellowish brown Chelicerae; large, pincer like, held forward close together. Pedipalps heavy, leglike held like coarse antennae. 1st pair of walking legs as long as other pairs but much more slender.

Habitat: Arid and semiarid lands.

Range: Arizona to North Dakota and adjacent areas of Canada.

Food: Insects and small vertebrate animals, such as lizards.

Life Cycle: Female digs out area in soil, then hides eggs there. Female stands guard until they hatch. Young are primarily nocturnal, venturing about in daylight only when they approach adult size. Males remain much smaller than females and their legs are longer in proportion to body length.

These solitary windscorpions are independent hunters from hatchlings to adult stages. Only a specialist can distinguish the more than 100 species in this genus.”

So this sounds like the only contender for your scorpion.

I’m glad you’ve asked about this creature, as I was under the impression that all scorpions had stingers, and were poisonous.

Although it doesn’t say in the book, I’m assuming that this one doesn’t have any venom, but I would stay away from the pincers, as other species can give a sharp pinch with those.
Jacki

Because Scorpions are actually Arachnids, and closely related to spiders, I’ve moved this story to the Spider Identification page.