What are scorpions defenses?

Answer 1

Insects that are commonly referred to as water scorpions belong to the family

Nepidae. There are 13 species of water scorpions found in North America (McCafferty,

1981). Water scorpions are 15-45 mm (excluding the breathing tube) long and are

either narrow and elongate or broad and oval in form (McCafferty, 1981). Nepidae

respire through a long caudal breathing tube, or snorkel. The legs are long and narrow.

The fore legs are raptorial (Daly, 1998; Kellogg and Kellogg, 1994; Lehmkuhl, 1979;

McCafferty, 1981), while the posterior legs are adapted for walking among aquatic

vegetation and debris where they stalk prey (Daly, 1998). Water scorpions are poor

swimmers (Daly, 1998; McCafferty, 1981), but they mostly inhabit aquatic vegetation

and debris of lentic waters and therefore do not need to be good swimmers.

The group of insects commonly known as the giant water bugs belongs to the

family Belostomatidae. There are approximately 20 species of belostomatids found in

North America (Lehmkuhl, 1979; McCafferty, 1981). These can be some of the largest

aquatic insects and are usually 20-65 mm long (McCafferty, 1981). They are somewhat

flattened and oval in form. Giant water bugs obtain oxygen through a pair of retractile

strap-like appendages that are located at the tip of the abdomen (Lehmkuhl, 1979). The

fore legs are raptorial, and the middle and hind legs are fringed with hairs for swimming.

The large raptorial fore legs allow belostomatids to attack prey that can be up to 20 time

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larger in size (Kellogg and Kellogg, 1994). Males of the genera Belostoma and Abedus

carry eggs on their backs (females glue them there) until they hatch. Common names

other than giant water bugs include fish killers, electric light bugs, and toe biters. The

name fish killer refers to the voraciousness of some species that will attack small fishes

and other small animals such as ducklings (McCafferty, 1981). The name electric light

bug refers to the tendency of dispersing adults to be attracted to lights at night

(McCafferty, 1981). The name toe biter refers to the fact that some species are known

bit the toes of waders and swimmers (McCafferty, 1981).

Answer 2

Some use their fluorescent coloring to act as a defense mechanism and to ward off predators. Mostly, however, they will bite and release venom when they are intimidated.

Answer 3

Yes, large species of scorpions use claws to defend themselves. However, small species of scorpion(bark scorpion,death-stalker scorpion,fat-tailed scorpion)use their venom.