False scorpions are fakers. These tiny predators look like their deadly namesakes, though they don't have tails with poisonous stings. But they're still dangerous to their prey. They use their jaws and pincers to inject insects with venom, ensuring that these arachnids stay well fed. When prey is scare, false scorpions hitch a ride on the backs of insects or even small mammals to travel to new hunting grounds.
Scorpio: Like a scorpion, these tiny arachnids have large claws. Unlike their cousins, false scorpions can inject venom through their pincers when holding onto prey. This helps the tiny hunters kill insects that are much larger than they are.
Venom Plus: In addition to their poisonous claws, false scorpions also inject venom through their double-jaws. When these small predators grab a victim, poisonous enzymes flow into the wound and quickly take effect.
Let's Stop Here, Honey[]
Leaves make good stalking spots for these minuscule arachnids.
False scorpions have a clever way of finding new food sources. When prey runs out in one place, these arachnids grab onto a bigger animal-from bees and beetles to rodents-and hitch a ride to a new area. The false scorpions grip with their pincers, but the larger hosts usually aren't hurt by the venom that leaks out, and often don't know the hitchhiker is there. One species hooks onto bees that are flying to their hives. When the ride is over, the scorpion kills the host with its venomous claws, then starts feeding on the bees and grubs inside.
Adaptable: Beach-dwelling false scorpions seal themselves in air bubbles under the sand when the tide comes in. Species that live in caves don't have eyes, and rely on sensory hairs to find food.
Book Lover: In the 4th century BC, the Greek scientist Aristotle discovered that these scorpions lived in books, eating up tiny creatures that fed on paper.
Suck it Up[]
- While prowling on a leaf, a false scorpion sees a springtail. The predator rushes forwards and grabs the creature in its pincers, slicing through its armor and letting venom flow into the wounds. The springtail dies almost instantly.
- The false scorpion bites into the victim's lifeless body, letting more venomous enzymes soak in, which begin to liquefy the meal. Within a few minutes, the springtail is a puddle of mush, which the false scorpion slurps up.
Trivia[]
- The main blurb on the front of the card mislabels scorpion stings as poisonous.
- The false scorpion is one of many creatures mentioned as having been researched by Aristotle, alongside Woodlouse Spider, Sea Urchins, and Cuttlefish.
- The card repeatedly erroneously calls the false scorpion's poison venom, and also does the same with the sting of true scorpions.