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European Scorpions living wild in the UK
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Introduction
Scorpions are not insects. Scorpions are Arachnids, as are spiders and mites. Arachnids have 8 legs, insects have 6 legs.
The fact that you have arrived at this site suggests that, like me, you have an interest in European scorpions.
I started this site in late 2000 as a result of my interest in one particular variety of European Scorpion,
Euscorpius flavicaudis, commonly known as the European Yellow-Tailed Scorpion.
My interest was first aroused back in 1980 when I saw a TV news report concerning specimens of
scorpion having been discovered living at various sites around the south-east of England. It was
suggested that they had migrated to the UK by accident aboard ships arriving from continental Europe.
Despite the typical British weather, some small colonies of scorpion were surviving reasonably well.
This emphasises just how adaptable these creatures can be. It is quite common for the scorpions to shelter in perimiter stone walls and in rocky crevices.
The locations of scorpion colonies within the UK typically involve areas that are fairly isolated and away from constant human disturbance, e.g. remote sea ports, railway stations and derelict sites. Sheerness dockyard in Kent is one such site.
Simple Information
Having experienced some difficulty finding information about the European varieties of scorpion, I decided to put together this simple site in the hope that it might prove to be of some benefit to others, at least as a starting point.
This site is not intended as a completely accurate scientific reference.
I myself am just an amateur enthusiast. I am not a scorpion expert. The information that I have gathered comes from commonly available sources, discussions with other enthusiasts and what I have managed to glean from the internet in general.
The venom of European scorpions is not considered to be life-threatening for most humans. However, it is important to recognise that dealing with any species of scorpion is a hazardous activity and should not be entered into lightly.
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© Copyright 2004, 2005 Gary J. Drew