![]() ![]() This is such an essential item that I usually carry a backup headlamp and spare batteries in a backpack. ![]() Check the batteries first and then put on your headlamp. Oh, and this is probably obvious, but you should wear a good sturdy pair of boots with your chaps. Personally, I like loose fitting chaps, which allows for air flow (they don’t get too hot) and maneuverability, but are durable enough for even the most aggressive cacti. It seems like most snake chaps just aren’t made for the desert. The plastic versions are too brittle and can crack when you bend down to collect scorps, and most of the others get too hot. Chaps have saved my legs from encounters with nasty plants like the teddybear cholla on several occasions. ![]() Several humbling close calls later and now I never look for scorpions without my chaps! Not only do they prevent debilitating and costly (medical bills in the six figures) rattlesnake bites, but they act as excellent shin guards when pushing your way through sharp, spiny, and downright malicious desert vegetation. I grew up searching for and collecting snakes, so I figured I would easily see a rattlesnake well before I stepped on it. I used to naively walk through the desert at night in flip flops. I have become disoriented on several occasions, even after years of experience. NOTE: Do not underestimate how easy it is to get lost in the desert at night, especially at flat, low-elevation sites or sand dunes. Large bright lights pointed toward the sky can produce a beam that can be seen from miles away, just like the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas, making it easy to find your way back. The best methods are to use a GPS and mark your vehicle as a waypoint, or to turn on a flashlight and leave it your dashboard or hood. Park your vehicle and make sure you can find it in the dark.Rocky habitats will harbor smaller but equally fascinating species like sawfinger scorpions ( Serradigitus ) and more venomous bark scorpions ( Centruroides spp.). Look for sandy substrates with mesquite thickets or vegetated desert washes if you want to target giant hairy scorpions. Sand dune communities and warm, low-elevation habitats are best, where you’re likely to encounter large aggressive species like the giant hairy scorpions ( Hadrurus spp., below) and California dune scorpions ( Smeringurus mesaensis).īelow I provide some simple steps to increase your chances of a successful collecting expedition. ![]() So if you want to find scorpions in the United States then your best bet is to hit the deserts. But on a good night scorpions can sometimes be found by the hundreds!Īlthough scorpions occur in all but the coldest environments (there are no arctic scorpions), they are most abundant in warm arid ecosystems. All you have to do is wait until dusk and then pull out a UV light. You will need to be in the right habitat, of course, and collecting efforts are usually most productive during warm summer months. Being nocturnal animals, this makes them relatively easy to find. Conveniently, scorpions fluoresce a brilliant green to blue color when illuminated with ultraviolet (UV) light (also known as blacklights). I receive a lot of emails asking for tips on collecting scorpions in the field, so I’ve assembled a quick guide to help you get started. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |