Scorpions Of Lowveld

Essential Scorpion Sting First Response by Jonathan Leeming

The focus of these pages is on identification and first response for each species. 

Eastern Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion

Small scorpion with an average length between 40mm and 50mm in length. Light-brown with a pale stipe down the centre of the tergites. Last 2 tail segments are darker in colour. Characteristic dark triangle on the carapace. Often seen on vegetation at night using a UV torch. 

Giant Rock Scorpion

The Giant Rock Scorpion, (Hadogenes troglodytes), is the longest scorpion in Southern Africa attaining a length of 130mm to 150mm in length. Males have longer tails than females and attaining a length of 190mm. Found on rocky ridges and outcrops where stye shelter in cracks of rocks or where 2 rock form a narrow crack. […]
Jones's Lessor Creeping Scorpion, Cheloctous jonesii.

Jones's Lessor Creeping Scorpion

Medium sized scorpion, average 50mm to 60mm in length, attaining 70mm in other areas. Colouration rangers from overall black, to dark brown with slightly lighter legs. Often muddy in appearance because of the clay-is soils that they burrow into. Construct a near vertical burrow up to 21cm in depth in level hard soils.
Lowveld Creeping Scorpion, Opistacanthus leavipes

Lowveld Creeping Scorpion

A large scorpion with an average length of 90mm to 100mm.  Legs and sting are a lighter colour than the body. Pincers are smooth in texture. Found in rocky areas where they shelter between 2 rocks or in a rock crack. Distribution of this species rarely overlaps with the Giant Rock Scorpion.

Mozambique Thick-Tail Scorpion

Medium scorpion with an average length of 60mm to 70mm in length. Overall orange to orange-brown in coloration. Tail segments will granular keels. Prefers flat areas where it shelters under surface debris such as rocks and logs. Often seen at night on roads and open areas. This scorpion is very mobile in the environment, resulting […]

Olive Lessor Thick-Tail Scorpion

Uropelctes olivaceus

Peglar's Pygmy Thick-Tail Scorpion

Pseudolychas ochraceus

Shiny Burrowing Scorpion

Opistophthalmus glabrifrons

Transvaal Thick-Tail Scorpion

Typically up to 100mm in length, colouration is charcoal black to greyish brown. A sting from this scorpions represents a red flag.

Tree Creeping Scorpion

Opistacanthus asper

Uroplectes carinatus