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European Scorpions discovered in Dorset.: |
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Alex2 Senior Member Joined: 16 Dec 2006 No. of posts: 266  View other posts by Alex2 |
Posted: 28 Apr 2008 Apologies for putting this in the herpetological aliens forum but i feel this will reach more people here than in the off topic forum. Has anyone heard about scorpions in Swanage or is this a new discovery? I had some scorpions euscorpius flavicaudis brought to me tonight by a local quarry worker, he found them in an area of Swanage close to the pier and apparently they're quite plentiful. To my knowledge, previous colonies are only known in Kent and also the docks around Liverpool. The quarry worker in question told me they number in their hundreds at this location, and thought it was common knowledge, but it's the first i've heard of it. Anyone have any knowledge of this? And who would be the best people to speak to regarding these scorpions?. |
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Chris Newman Member Joined: 25 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by Chris Newman |
Posted: 29 Apr 2008 I am unaware of any colonies of Euscorpius being recorded from Swanage? There are periodic records of them being found in various ports, Southampton was once suppose to house a colony but as far as I am aware they have not been seen in recent years. Very interesting to here if anyone else has any knowledge of records from Swanage! Chris |
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Alex2 Senior Member Joined: 16 Dec 2006 No. of posts: 266 View other posts by Alex2 |
Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Hello Chris, I will be going down to this site either later tonight, or perhaps tomorrow night to investigate further. The chap who found them was told to speak to me by some of the locals at my nearest watering hole, the Kings Arms, Langton Matravers (a pub i think Tony Phelps knows well). The pub is quite popular with local quarry workers, and the scorpions are apparently common knowledge between these guys, so the quarryworker seemed to be surprised when i was er surprised!. I have the 2 scorpions in a small glass tank at the moment. It's thought that they've been there some years, and may of come in between shipments of stone from boats leaving Swanage to Europe, the scorpions arriving on the return boats? (this trade ceased some years ago from Swanage, so they must of been there decades if this is how they came to arrive here). I'd be happy to meet up with you Chris, or any established members of the forum who would like to investigate the site, but preferably with someone who has access to a portable UV tube!. As i don't, i'm going to take an infra red light down, i presume the next best thing as it hopefully won't disturb them too much. |
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Chris Newman Member Joined: 25 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by Chris Newman |
Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Hi Alex, I have a portable UV light which you could borrow if you would like! I only live in Southampton, which is not a million miles away. I am currently on the government non-native species working group, mostly dealing with reptiles and amphibians. However, I also work on arachnids, been involved with Latrodectus issue for the passed fifteen or so years. I am interested in scorpions and how they have become established here in the UK. Whilst there are a number of reports of colonies up and down the country few appear to be self supporting. It would be very interesting to find out more about this population. Chris |
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Alex2 Senior Member Joined: 16 Dec 2006 No. of posts: 266 View other posts by Alex2 |
Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Hello Chris, Great stuff, i will keep you informed on this. The weather's not too great down here today, but unless it's raining heavily i will make a visit either late tonight or tomorrow early evening. I know they're very secretive, and the 2 i have are very small so it's easy to see how they've gone undetected. They were found on a stretch of road that i've walked along many times, but wouldn't of thought twice about looking for small scorpions whilst passing by, however, now i know what to look for i will hopefully find some. Thanks for the kind offer on the UV tube, as i won't have one at my disposal tonight do you think a headlamp fitted with a red light would be suitable for spotting these? I'd of thought the brightness of a normal bulb would send them scurrying back for cover? |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis |
Posted: 29 Apr 2008 As far as i know, there's a colony at Sheerness Dock, there was some at Dover, Ongar, Tilbury and apparently in Portsmouth Docks. Please keep me up-to date Alex as well because I would be very interested in finding and photographing the Scorpions. I have next week off so if your trip proves positive, I'll be down there to have a look. Cheers, Mark P.S Chris, I'm only a couple of miles up the road from you in Eastleigh Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group. |
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Alex2 Senior Member Joined: 16 Dec 2006 No. of posts: 266 View other posts by Alex2 |
Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Hi Mark, i will keep you up to date for sure, and will PM you the location once i can pinpoint exactly the right area. |
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Chris Newman Member Joined: 25 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by Chris Newman |
Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Alex, it would be much easier with a UV lamp, rather than a red light, but the latter is worth a try. I will try and dig out my UV lamp and you are welcomed to use it! I would also suspect the little chaps are not going to be very active in the rain and cold, nice warm dry night would be much better. Mark, I live in Woolston, so very close. DonĘt actually keep many reptiles these days, but if you are into porcupines and possums, then IĘm your man! Also have racoons, skunks, and an array of other crittersą Chris |
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Chris Newman Member Joined: 25 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by Chris Newman |
Posted: 28 May 2008 Alex did you ever find any of the little critters? Chris |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis |
Posted: 31 May 2008 Thats what I was wondering too... Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group. |
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Alex2 Senior Member Joined: 16 Dec 2006 No. of posts: 266 View other posts by Alex2 |
Posted: 12 Jun 2008 Hello all, Apologies for not updating information. I'm still yet to visit the site, although it's only a few miles from my home, i have been very busy and the scorpion hunt has been way back on my list of priorities. If anyone would like to join me one evening on a site visit, i'd be more than happy to accomodate them. Feel free to drop me a PM. |
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Chris Newman Member Joined: 25 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by Chris Newman |
Posted: 16 Jun 2008 Alex your in box is full! I would be up for an evenings foray, just received two new UV lamps from the US which could do with an airingą give me a call when you have a moment 023 8044 0999 Chris |
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mhows Member Joined: 27 Feb 2006 No. of posts: 19 View other posts by mhows |
Posted: 27 Jun 2008 Alex can you contact me
also check out my webpage for non native species which I am trying to see http://www.hows.org.uk/inter/birds/exotics.htm Thanks Mark
PS your inbox is still full |
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will Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 330 View other posts by will |
Posted: 09 Jul 2010 Anyone got any news on these ? I've got a week booked in Purbeck in August and I'd love to see a scorpion there! Will |
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arvensis Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 No. of posts: 445 View other posts by arvensis |
Posted: 12 Jul 2010 [QUOTE=will]Anyone got any news on these ? I've got a week booked in Purbeck in August and I'd love to see a scorpion there! Will [/QUOTE] I'd like to know myself because I never did find out where they are meant to be. Mark Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group. |
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ev01 Member Joined: 31 Oct 2010 No. of posts: 1 View other posts by ev01 |
Posted: 31 Oct 2010 Hi all, I'm a BBC Journalist and am doing some research into wild Scorpions living in the UK. I know that the colony in Kent has been covered recently, but do any of you know anything further about others living in either Southampton, Portsmouth or Swanage? Have there been any more recent sightings around the South? I'd be most grateful for your assistance. Please email me on emma.vardy@bbc.co.uk Many thanks Emma Vardy |
- European Scorpions discovered in Dorset. |