Scorpions in Australia

Australian Scorpions: Silent Guardians of the Night 

As the heat of the day fades and the Australian landscape cools, another world awakens beneath rocks, bark and sand. Moving quietly and with ancient precision, Australian scorpions emerge—often unseen, frequently misunderstood, yet vital to the balance of our ecosystems. These nocturnal arachnids have lived on Earth for hundreds of millions of years, perfectly adapted to survive Australia’s harsh and varied environments.

What Is a Scorpion?

Scorpions are arachnids, meaning they are related to spiders, mites and ticks—not insects.

Key Characteristics

  • Class: Arachnida
  • Order: Scorpiones
  • Body segments: Two (cephalothorax and abdomen)
  • Legs: 8
  • Distinct features:
    • A pair of pincers (pedipalps)
    • A curved tail ending in a venomous stinger

Scorpions rely on touch and vibration, rather than sight, to understand their surroundings.

Scorpions of Australia

Australia is home to over 100 known scorpion species, with many more likely still undescribed. While Australia does not have scorpions considered lethal to humans, several species can deliver painful stings.

Where They Live

Scorpions are found across all mainland states and territories, from deserts to rainforests.

Common habitats include:

  • Arid deserts and sand dunes
  • Open woodlands and grasslands
  • Rainforests and coastal heath
  • Under rocks, logs and leaf litter
  • Inside burrows and tree bark

Scorpions are excellent survivors, able to tolerate extreme heat, drought and long periods without food.

Major Scorpion Groups in Australia

1. Burrowing Scorpions (Urodacus genus)

These are the largest and most recognisable Australian scorpions.

  • Length: Up to 12 cm
  • Thick bodies and powerful pincers
  • Live in deep burrows, sometimes over 1 metre long
  • Common in arid and semi-arid regions

Example: Urodacus yaschenkoi (Desert Scorpion)

2. Bark Scorpions (Lychas genus)

Smaller, agile and more likely to encounter humans.

  • Length: 3–6 cm
  • Found under bark, rocks and garden debris
  • More common in eastern and northern Australia
  • Responsible for most scorpion stings in Australia

3. Rainforest & Tropical Scorpions

  • Found in Queensland and northern regions
  • Often darker in colour
  • Prefer moist, shaded environments.

 Behaviour and Lifestyle

Nocturnal Hunters

Scorpions are active at night, avoiding heat and dehydration during the day.

Feeding Habits

They are ambush predators, feeding on:

  • Insects
  • Spiders
  • Small lizards
  • Other scorpions

Scorpions use their pincers to grab prey, delivering venom only when needed.

Venom and Stings

Australian scorpion venom is used mainly for subduing prey, not defence.

What a Sting Feels Like

  • Sharp, localised pain
  • Redness or swelling
  • Tingling or numbness

Serious reactions are rare, though children and allergic individuals may be more sensitive.

No Australian scorpion species is known to cause human deaths.

Sensory Superpowers

Scorpions have remarkable adaptations:

  • Vibration detection: Tiny hairs sense movement through ground and air
  • Low metabolism: Can survive months without food
  • UV fluorescence: Scorpions glow blue-green under ultraviolet light

Why Do Scorpions Glow?

Scientists believe this may:

  • Help detect UV light levels
  • Aid in night-time navigation
  • Be a by-product of their exoskeleton chemistry

 Life Cycle and Reproduction

Scorpions display unusual parental care.

  1. Live birth
    • Females give birth to live young, not eggs
  2. Mother–young bond
    • Newborns climb onto the mother’s back
    • They remain there until their first moult
  3. Slow growth
    • Scorpions may take several years to reach adulthood
  4. Long lifespan
    • Some species live 10–25 years

 Role in the Ecosystem

Scorpions are important natural pest controllers.

They help regulate populations of:

  • Insects
  • Spiders
  • Small arthropods

In turn, scorpions are prey for:

  • Birds
  • Reptiles
  • Small mammals

Conservation & Coexistence

Although scorpions are not endangered as a group, many species face local pressures.

Threats

  • Habitat destruction
  • Urban expansion
  • Pesticide use
  • Soil compaction and land clearing

Living Safely with Scorpions

Respect Their Role

Scorpions are not aggressive and sting only when threatened.

  • Avoid handling scorpions
  • Check shoes, gloves and bedding in bush areas

Protect Natural Habitats

  • Preserve leaf litter, rocks and fallen timber
  • Support conservation of arid and woodland environments

 Reduce Chemical Use

  • Limit insecticides that remove scorpion prey
  • Choose wildlife-friendly pest management

Learn and Share Knowledge

  • Teach children that scorpions are part of healthy ecosystems
  • Encourage curiosity rather than fear

Fascinating Scorpion Facts

  • Scorpions have existed for over 430 million years, predating dinosaurs.
  • They can slow their metabolism to survive extreme conditions.
  • Some Australian scorpions build burrows deeper than a human is tall.
  • A scorpion’s sting is often less dangerous than a bee sting.
  • Under UV light, scorpions glow like living constellations.

Ancient Survivors of the Australian Night

Scorpions are living relics—quiet, patient and perfectly suited to the landscapes they inhabit. By understanding them, we replace fear with respect and recognise their role in keeping Australia’s ecosystems in balance.

Photo Gallery

Scroll to Top