European Species

Identified varieties of European scorpion

Introduction
European Scorpions
Colonies in the UK
Collecting Wild Scorpions

Introduction

One of the advantages of the European varieties of scorpion is that they are generally considered safe and fairly easy to keep. However, before selecting any type of scorpion to keep, make sure that you are aware of the potential danger!

Read the Important Warning notice on the main page and also the sections 'Effects of a Sting' and 'Assessing the Danger' on the Safety page.

European Varieties

This list is not exhaustive: if you know of any other European varieties that are not included in this list then please let me know so that I can include them.

Scientific Name	Common Name	Description	Located	Max. Length
Euscorpius flavicaudis	European Yellow-Tailed scorpion	A small scorpion, brown in coloration, with pale brown legs & a yellow tail (stinger). Pincers are dark brown, almost black	Spain France UK	5 cm
Euscorpius italicus	Italian scorpion	Black or dark brown, with light-brown legs/tail	Italy & S.Europe	?
Euscorpius germanus	unknown	Similar to italicus, but generally darker and sometimes heavier-bodied	Europe (various, incl Italy)	?
Euscorpius carpathicus	unknown		Czec Republic	?
Euscorpius gammae	unknown		?	?
Euscorpius mingrelicus	Mingrelian scorpion		?	?
Euscorpius tergestinus	unknown		?	?

Scorpion colonies in the UK

Known locations of Colonies in the UK. Not all of these colonies are currently active, i.e. the scorpions may have died out or have been exterminated.

Collecting scorpions from the wild

European scorpions are not readily available from commercial UK outlets (pet shops, dealers, etc.) so the alternative is to collect them from natural sites, both in the UK and on the continent.