An entomologist brought a mason jar to show to our day campers, with this wind scorpion in it. It was only about an inch long and lived in his house. “Wind” because they are fast, “scorpion” because they dine like scorpions even though they have no stinging tail. Not venomous, but their bite does pinch. A small praying mantis dropped into the mason jar was just about caught in the air and devoured within minutes. They liquify their prey and suck the juices out. All that was left of the mantis was a small pile of debris, or maybe mantis dust.
For a bit more information on wind scorpions, I’ve prepared a second post — just click on Wind Scorpion 2.
I was folding laundry last night and grabbed a towel and shook it out. From the corner of my eye I saw a dark bit hit the floor and scurry reclusively underneath a map. I instinctively stepped on it (probably not the most ranger-ish thing to do) and I will take it in to work today where we have a dissecting scope. I want to identify it. Knowing what lives with me is calming.
Pardon my ecological incorrectness, but trusting one’s instincts in the situation you describe strikes me as having high survival value – and we do want our species to survive (to say nothing of certain individuals)!
love,
d
Comment by Dad — July 22, 2009 @ 10:29 am |
[...] wind scorpion July 2009 1 comment 3 [...]
Pingback by 2010 in review, from WordPress « Ranger Kathryn's Arches — January 2, 2011 @ 9:18 am |
ewww!! that looks nasty!!!! are they scary???
Comment by alena — January 12, 2011 @ 3:46 pm |
Only if you’re startled by one. Otherwise, they are just another insect…
Comment by kath56ryn — January 12, 2011 @ 4:00 pm |