Scorpions in Tasmania, Australia

Factual Questions
1

Hi,
First time user but with a burning question :confused:I moved from the mainland - that’s what Tasmanian’s call the rest of Australia about four years ago. I was moving some stone paving and to my utter surprise (and delayed shock) I discovered a 2 inch scorpion. Whose life span was considerably shortened! A guy who lived here for ten years didn’t believe me so I actually caught another one to show him!
After 38 years on the Mainland (and I’ve travelled the outback lots)I have never seen a scorpion and assumed they aren’t native to OZ! So my question has three parts:

  1. Are there scorpions on the mainland?
  2. How did they get to Tasmania?
  3. Why my yard and at times wandering around the house?

Thanks
jette :smiley:

2

I don’t remember ever seeing any scorpions while I was in Australia. But a bit of googling suggests that there are various scorpion species all over the country, being larger in the north.

It sounds as though the only species found in Tassie is Cercophonius squama (also found on southeast of the mainland), which is probably the one you’ve been encountering.

3

I’ve seen a scorpion on the mainland, it was squished into the tyre of an aeroplane wheel. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen. (I’ve only seen a couple of snakes too.)

4

Have never seen a scorpion in Sydney, but when I was living in the Riverina, (SW NSW) they were seen if you went digging in the sandhills, if you really looked.

5

How did they get there? Scorpions have been around since well before Gondwanaland broke up, even before Pangaea split. They have always been there and are probably wondering where you came from.

6

When I was a kid growing up in Canberra we’d see scorpions all the time out in the bush. Pathetic ones but scorpions none the less.

7

And, demonstrating the cunning deviousness of the antipodean wildlife, their sting is less poisonous than their North American brethren. The only thing in Australia that won’t kill you is apparently the scorpions. They must send them in as decoys.

8

Jeezus Bill Door, we’ve spent decades building this “In Oz, if it can move, it can kill you” ethos.
Don’t bugger it all up now!

9

Thanks everyone - you’re amazing!!! And thanks to Hallucinex the Cercophonius squama variety are the ones I’m sharing my house with :O)

10

Yeah, the fuckers are everywhere.

As stated above, they won’t incapacitate you. Sting and scare tactics seem to be their go.

Polaramine is your friend.