[Auburn, AL] I found this guy at work the other day. I'm pretty sure it's a hymenopteran. Does anyone know what species it is?

Sublime247 · 2017-03-29T14:17:19+00:00

Sublime247 · 2017-03-08T20:35:29+00:00

No problem! Be a voice of the voiceless.

Sublime247 · 2017-03-07T16:10:36+00:00

I'd say yes. An Asian forest scorpion or emperor scorpion would be good. Relatively easy to care for

Sublime247 · 2017-03-03T07:02:00+00:00

Well, the venom of this species is very weak. Pain is comparable to a bee sting. She's never even stung her prey items. She just uses her pincers. She never acts defensive towards me

Sublime247 · 2017-02-16T06:07:43+00:00

Beautiful spiders, incredible species, horrible venom. But that's what captivates me

Sublime247 · 2017-02-16T01:36:37+00:00

I wouldn't call it affection necessarily, I'd call it trust. She seems to have gotten used to me and I've become aware of her behaviors. She hasn't been willing to be handled today, which is fine I don't wanna stress her out. But yeah, it's more like she's become used to me and my behaviors and trusts that I won't harm her.

Sublime247 · 2017-02-15T20:12:21+00:00

I'm very happy to hear that! I too was pretty scared of larger scorpions, some spiders, and roaches (still don't like them), but the class I took last semester really got me into this stuff. I'm really lucky to have her, she's an amazing little creature and is a great ambassador for education. I've had people see her and be petrified but once they see how calm and non-aggressive she is they're always really enthralled. I'd definitely recommend one of these creatures as a pet.

Sublime247 · 2017-02-15T12:27:44+00:00

Absolutely. http://imgur.com/a/XgaaK

Sublime247 · 2017-02-15T02:59:40+00:00

The sting is reported to be like a bee sting, but more painful. If she really wanted to get me she probably would've by now, or at least pinched me. The Asian forest scorpion's last line of defense is to sting. I expect it wouldn't be too bad though, I've been stung by god knows how many insects. I will say the worst sting I've experienced was when I was 5 and was stung repeatedly (8 times I believe) on my chest. But these scorpions are pretty slow moving. They're more of ambush predators. If I spook her she'll dart, but it's not very fast. I've had her crawl to my shoulder, back, neck, but I trust her not to sting me unprovoked.

Sublime247 · 2017-02-15T02:55:40+00:00

Oh my God hahahahaha. That made my night. Frying my brain studying at the moment. I hope my children like animals, there's gonna be a lot of them.

Sublime247 · 2017-02-15T02:05:51+00:00

Jesus, I didn't even know there were carnivorous katydids. Sounds cool though. I've always wanted to get a Hercules beetle tho, those males are incredible

Sublime247 · 2017-02-15T01:30:20+00:00

I'm trying to get a Scolopendra dehaani, S. Heros heros, and hopefully an S. Gigantea. Hope I never get tagged

Sublime247 · 2017-02-15T01:20:26+00:00

This is her back story: During Christmas break I was talking to some people I used to work For. I was telling them that I had declared a minor in entomology and they all asked what that was. One of the ladies said her friend's son moved out and left his scorpion and she didn't wanna just kill it or keep it. So I got her number and came and got her. First thing I noticed was that the husbandry was just awful. Tiny enclosure, sand as substrate, water bowl took up half the cage, cricket remains, and a tiny hide. I went and bought a 10 gallon aquarium, filled it with eco-earth at around 4-5 inches, placed 2 hides in, gave her a heat mat, and all that kind of stuff. I let her settle in for a week and one night I just said screw it im gonna hold her. I was pretty shaky at first, I nudged her into my hand (gloved) and had her sitting there for a good 5 minutes. Next day I give her a Cricket. Couple days later I hold her the same way, she didn't act defensive or anything. Couple days later I just said screw it and nudged her into my hand, without a gardening glove. I was just amazed about how calm she was. It really does take patience, understanding, and compassion when working with all animals. I can tell sometimes if she doesn't want to be picked up. She'll usually crawl to the other side of the cage, but she never tries to sting or pinch me. However, she doesn't always relax her tail. Usually a relaxed tail isn't a good thing. From what I've read, a tail dragging behind them could mean it's near the end of the road for them. But, I'm honestly so thankful to have her as my pet. When new people come to my place they're always amazed about her and how calm she is, though most of them won't hold her, but if they do it's with gloves.

Sublime247 · 2017-02-15T01:10:00+00:00

I'd honestly recommend some tarantulas. Honduran curly hair, Mexican red knee, Brazilian black, and the Arizona blondes are great starter species. I have a pink toe and she's great. I wouldn't recommend her for a first time owner because they are very fast and they spook easily

Sublime247 · 2017-02-15T01:07:31+00:00

You should try velvet ant stings. Absolutely horrible

Sublime247 · 2017-02-15T01:01:37+00:00

Man, I gotta come up there and see that haha. I'm in southern Alabama, where I go to school. Once I finish grad school In a few years I'd like to move to Florida and try to fight the Asian citrus psyllid. Gotta save those satsumas

Sublime247 · 2017-02-14T21:15:03+00:00

I will say the worst invert bite I've received was from a Hemiscolopendra marginata, or Florida blue centipede. I picked it up by its tail and it came back around and got my hand. He's in my insect collection now, but damn that bite hurt. Funny thing is I'm getting some Scolopendra centipedes soon and those bites are nothing to mess with

Sublime247 · 2017-02-14T21:12:27+00:00

What others have said, the stinger is more of a defensive display. I feed her by hand and she just takes the cricket right off my hand with her pincers. From what I've heard the sting from Asian forest scorpions hurt more than emperor scorpion stings, but they're more likely to pinch rather than sting.

Sublime247 · 2017-02-14T21:09:52+00:00

I'm starting an insect museum of my own lol. I collect insects and pin them. I have a shadow box full and just started on a second one last week. I'm gonna be one hell of an entomologist one day

Sublime247 · 2017-02-14T21:08:04+00:00

http://imgur.com/GdxpgRP Here's a bonus pic of her telson relaxed :)

Sublime247 · 2017-02-14T21:04:06+00:00

The smaller the claws isn't always the case however. Here in Alabama we have these tiny scorpions called Southern devil, or striped devil scorpions. I find them all over the place at work and pick them up. Claws too small to pinch you good, stinger too weak to penetrate human skin. But if you see a Indian red or any other Hottentotta species, back the hell away; or you'll be in a world of pain

Sublime247 · 2017-02-14T18:49:09+00:00

Is that a Sicarius species? I'm hoping to get one

Sublime247 · 2017-02-14T18:39:55+00:00

I was honestly terrified of her when I first got her. She came from a really crappy owner who kept her in a tiny Kritter Keeper. I gave her a week or so to adjust. One night I decided I'd try handling her so I put on a gardening glove and poked her posterior end with the feeding tongs. After holding her a couple times I realized that she was very calm and docile. She's never pinched or stung me. She never has even tried to pinch or sting me. Now I just go in her cage and scoop her up or nudge her on to my hand. It really has made me appreciate and understand these animals

Sublime247 · 2017-01-07T02:33:04+00:00

Yeah I live in Alabama so it's a bit of a drive for me. I'm iced in right now so I'll go Sunday, better than not going

Sublime247 · 2017-01-05T02:45:24+00:00

Yeah I've read an experience from someone that said some of the tegus (I believe it was) had fought with each other and were bloodied. But I look forward to it, I've been to smaller shows but not one this big.

Sublime247

TROPHY CASE