The Transvaal Thick-Tail Scorpion (Parabuthus transvaalicus), is a large scorpion with an average length between 80mm to 100mm in length, reaching 120mm in some areas. Overall charcoal-black to greyish brown, the carapace is granular in texture. Legs are lighter in colour towards the extremities.
Spider bites in dogs and cats is a challenge to quantify and study. Bites are likely to be more common than in humans, but at the same time, often goes undiagnosed. When cats or dogs locate a spider, they rarely move away to a safe distance. They often head for it and try to kill it which may result in them being bitten.
It has been difficult to escape the social media buzz and website articles claiming that scorpion venom is the most expensive liquid in the world. Search for 'Scorpion venom value' and various amounts are returned, ranging from 10 to 39 million USD per gallon.
Several species occur in southern Africa, in a variety of different forms, all of which should be considered medically important. Information on Violin Spiders has become so mixed up with misidentifications, hoaxes, rumors and general hysteria.
In July 2025, numerous variants of a new report were posted on news websites and social media group. These reports varied in length and connote according to the platform that they were posted on, they contained more of less the following content.
A long day's travel and simple supper behind Janet and me, it was time for ablutions. I flipped off my flops and stepped into the tent to get my UV light because I enjoy scorpion-hunting in the bark of Shingwedzi's mopanis. I stood for a moment orienting, shifted my feet – and felt an eruption of searing pain. I could not see what I had immediately surmised to be a scorpion. It must have hit me through the tent floor!
9am to 1pm, 16th May 2021, FREE! Eco-Anxiety Workshop presented by author, speaker and conservationist Jonathan Leeming. Organised by Friends Of Kloofendal Nature Reserve.
Scorpions are iconic and truly enigmatic creatures, more recognisable than any Hollywood movie star, yet the average person knows very little about them. Their reputation is steeped in mystery, misinformation and old wives tales, with mankind morbidly fixated upon just one aspect of their natural history; their venom.
There is a common question that is often asked when someone discovers a scorpion “Is it dangerous?”. We can all appreciate that driving a car down a busy street at 200km per hour is dangerous... Someone is going to get injured or killed. Sitting in a parked car in a parking lot is not dangerous.
In Southern Africa, the occurrence of high risk species of scorpion, is closely aligned with rural areas that often have little or no medical facilities. In these areas, traditional healers are a culturally significant, trusted and much valued service within the community. In more affluent, urban areas, for example, homoeopathy and naturopathy plays a similar […]
