Euscorpius italicus is a scorpion belonging to the genus of small wood-scorpions. It is the largest species in the genus, with adults reaching lengths up to 50 mm. Its size can thus be used as a heuristic for determination.
Habitat
This species can be found in a variety of warm habitats, such as ruins, buildings, under household furnishings, and in crevices of walls. It is most often encountered near humans or places that humans have considerably changed. In nature, it hides under rocks. In the Eastern Mediterranean, it can be found in mountain forests.
In terrariums, the scorpion prefers temperatures from 20 °C to 25 °C during the day and no less than 18 °C to 20 °C during the night, with humidity in the range of 50 – 70 percent.
The Italian scorpion is considered to be a cultural follower and is often found in houses, cracks in walls, as well as terraced vineyards and sweet chestnut plantations.
The original, natural distribution area is in the mountainous hill ranges in the Italian regions of Tuscany and Lazio.
Description:At 40-50mm, the Italian scorpion is one of the largest in the Euscorpiidae family. Females are usually slightly larger than males. It is usually easy to distinguish them by the larger telson and the wider claws of the males. The body of both sexes is chestnut brown to dark brown, while the walking legs and the telson are light brown. My animals come from Croatia and are distinguished by their rather dark coloring. The sting of the Euscorpius Italicus is harmless and the sting usually does not even penetrate the skin.
Appearance
The coloration of E. italicus ranges from dark reddish brown to bluish black. The ventral side and telson are slightly lighter.
It differs from the other species of the genus by the significantly larger number of trichobothriae on the underside of the chela manus, and by the large number of trichobothriae on the outside of the patella of the pedipalps. The morphological differences between species in the genus Euscorpius are generally however small and identification is typically difficult.
Despite being the largest species in its genus, E. italicus significantly varies in size. Swiss specimens had lengths between 29.2 and 49.4 mm. Males had an average length of 37.3 mm, while females reached an average of 38.6 mm.
Distribution
The native range of E. italicus includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, France, Monaco, Switzerland, San Marino, Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Georgia, and Russia. It has been introduced to Yemen.
The species was originally discovered in Italy, whence it acquired its scientific name. Even though there is no agreed upon common name, it is most likely to be called the Italian scorpion or the Italian small wood-scorpion. The former variant is used in several European languages, like Polish,Czech, and Italian.
Distribution:The Euscorpius Italicus scorpion is quite widespread. It is found mainly in the warmer regions of Europe. Italy, France, Greece, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Macedonia, San Marino, Hungary, Switzerland and San Marino. However, it has also been seen in Russia and Scotland.
Behavior
The scorpion is a predator of a range of arthropods. It only hunts prey smaller than itself. It has been seen hunting isopods such as Armadillidium vulgare, centipedes in the genus Cryptops and Scutigera, earwigs like Forficula auricularia, crickets like Gryllus campestris and Nemobius syvestris, as well as various moths and spiders.
So far, females with scorplings have only been observed outdoors in August and September, and mating is thought to exclusively take place during this period. Accordingly, the gestation period lasts 11 to 11.5 months. E. italicus is, like all other scoprions, viviparous: juveniles tear open their embryonic shell immediately after birth and climb on the mother’s back. The number of young per female is between 9 and 62. Young scorpions leave their mother following their first molt, which takes place after 6 or 7 days.
To reach sexual maturity, males will require 5 – 6 molts, whereas females will require 6 – 7. This would suggest that males take 2 – 3 years and females 2.5 – 4 years to reach adulthood. The life expectancy of the species is taken to be between 4 and 8 years in the wild, while a specimen has been observed to live for over 10 years in a laboratory.The scorpion leads a solitary life and spends most of its life in hiding. It is nocturnal and has a mild temperament.
Habitat:
This species prefers warm habitats.
It can be found in ruins, buildings & walls.
Also in grassy hills, under stones & roots.
In the eastern Mediterranean it can even be found in mountain forests.
External characteristics & gender differences:
Size: This scorpion grows up to 5cm.
The 1.0 can be recognized by its larger venom sac (telson).
The males are smaller than the females.
Appearance: The body is black – dark brown / chestnut.
The legs are orange to brown.
This species has a thin metasoma.
The pedipalps of this species are very strong.
Italian dwarf scorpion – Euscorpius italicus
Product information “Italian dwarf scorpion – Euscorpius italicus”
Breeding Euscorpius italicus
Name: Italian dwarf scorpion/Euscorpius italicus
Group: Euscorpiidae
Origin: Southeast France, Georgia & Russia
Food: Insects
Final size: <5cm Tank size: 20x20x20cm(L/W/H) Number: >1 animal (group keeping possible)
Daytime temperature: 26° to 29°C
Nighttime temperature: 15° to 22°C
Humidity: 50%
Special features: less toxic, the species hibernates
Common names:No common name. All Euscorpius were previously placed in the family Chactidae.
Distribution:Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), Asia (Georgia, Turkey, Yemen (introduced), Europe (Albania, Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Monaco, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Yugoslavia).
Habitat:This species is found in warm habitats, and is quite common in ruins, in buildings, under house-hold furnishings, in crvices of walls etc. It can also be found in grass hills, under stones etc. In the Eastern Mediterranean are it can be found in mountain forests.
Venom:Few medical data available, but data from Italy suggest local effects only. Mildly venomous. Harmless scorpion, which rarely will use its stinger.
