Is it a mite?

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Common names

scorpions

Probability of encounter

medium

Quarantine importance

Some species deadly poisonous.

Similarity to mites

None other than general arachnid features.

Morphology

Normal adult length: >15 mm (range 1.5–21 cm)
Body tagmata: prosoma, mesosoma (preabdomen), metasoma (postabdomen), sting
Eyes: lateral ocelli, median ocular tubercle with 2 ocelli
Antennae: absent
Mouthparts: 3-segmented pincer-like chelicerae; robust, raptorial 5-segmented palps with distal pincers
Legs: 4 pairs
Distinguishing features: 'tail' of ring-like metasomal segments ending in sting; pincer-like claws (pedipalps).

Diversity

 >1,100 spp.

References

• Fet et al. 2000Fet et al. 2000:
  Fet V, Sissom WD, Lowe G, Braunwalder ME. 2000. Catalogue of the Scorpions of the World (1758–1998). New York Entomological Society, New York.
• Stockwell (Tree of Life Web Project) 1996Stockwell (Tree of Life Web Project) 1996:
  Stockwell SA. 1996. Scorpionida. Scorpions and their extinct relatives. Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/