【转译】真蝎属Euscorpius flavicaudis产地记录及饲养启示（上）
鉴于网上无法搜到真蝎属（Euscorpius）的饲养资料（因为没有过流通），国内相关论文也很少，我搬运了此文作为知识储备，共勉。
原作者：英国摄影师Jason Steel
原标题：Yellow-Tailed Scorpions in the UK
It often comes as a surprise to most people to learn that we have had scorpions living and breeding here in the UK for over 150 years. The small Yellow-Tailed Scorpion, Euscorpius flavicaudis, has managed to set up at least one thriving colony, in an isolated area in SE England, despite the generally cool and mild climate here in the UK . These scorpions have been found on occasion at several coastal towns across the south of England over the years. The best known and most successful introduced population can still be found on the Isle of Sheppy, in Kent, around the dock-land town of Sheerness. This Yellow-Tailed Scorpion population was estimated in the late 1980's to consist of around 700 specimens. Due to the sedentary nature of these scorpions it has since been agreed by many arachnologists that this initial number was probably grossly underestimated. Many sources now claim that the Yellow-Tailed Scorpion colony at Sheerness could be as large as 10,000 or even 15,000 specimens. I can't find any information on how this 10,000 - 15.000 figure was calculated though and after studying and photographing the scorpions at Sheerness for 15 years I personally believe that the colony is far smaller than these claimed figures.
大多数人听到有蝎子在我们英国繁衍生息了150多年这件事时，他们往往会很惊讶。Euscorpius flavicaudis，这种小小的黄尾巴蝎在英格兰东南部的一个岛上已经成功建立了至少一个繁荣的群落，尽管英国的气候往往是凉爽而温和的。近年来，英格兰南部的几个沿海城镇人们偶尔会发现这种蝎子。最著名、最成功的引入种群仍然可以在肯特郡谢皮岛码头镇的希尔内斯附近找到。20世纪80年代，这种蝎子种群中的个体数量大概有700只。由于这种蝎子天性不好动，许多蛛形纲专家都认为这个数字可能被严重低估了。现在许多消息称，它们在希尔内斯的种群个体数量可能多达10000-150000只。我找不到任何关于这个数字是如何得出来的信息，在我拍摄并研究希尔内斯的这种蝎子长达15年后，我个人认为它的种群个体数量远小于这些公布的数字。
This population was the first ever scorpion colony recorded in the UK. Old records are a little sketchy but it's believed that these scorpions first arrived at Sheerness Docks during the 1860's. The Natural History Museum has a preserved Yellow-Tailed Scorpion specimen in its collection, which was collected from within the grounds of the Sheerness Docks in 1870, and was identified at the time by J. J. Walker. This is the earliest confirmed and identified specimen so we known that these scorpions were already established at the docks before 1870. The Yellow Tailed Scorpion has been living in the south-facing walls, rock crevices, abandoned buildings and railway sleepers of these docks for over 150 years now and still thrives there today in 2022. In fact these little arachnid stowaways have been established in Britain for longer than the Grey squirrel, which didn't arrive in the UK until it was imported and deliberately introduced in 1890, during the Victorian era.
这是英国有史以来第一个有记录的蝎子种群。过去的记录有点粗略，但人们相信这些蝎子是在19世纪60年代第一次到达希尔内斯码头的。自然历史博物馆收藏了一只保存完好的黄尾蝎子标本，这只标本是1870年在谢尔内斯码头收集，并由J.J.Walker鉴定。这是黄尾蝎最早被确认和鉴定的样本，所以我们可以知道，这些蝎子在1870年以前就已经在希尔内斯码头建立群落了。150年来，在码头向南的墙壁里，岩石裂缝里，废弃建筑里、铁路枕木里，黄尾蝎一直在这些地方生存，直到2022年的今天它们仍在这些地方茁壮成长。事实上，这些小型“偷渡者”在英国的生存时间比1890年维多利亚时代才引进英国的灰松鼠还要长。
Although no one knows for sure it is widely accepted that these small scorpions originally found there way into the UK accidentally as stowaways amid the regular shipments of Italian masonry, that were brought to the docks aboard sailing ships during the reign of Edward VII. Euscorpius flavicaudis are sometimes referred to by their synonym, Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis. Due to the success of this scorpion colony it's likely that it became established as a result of multiple additions from accidental stowaways over the years.
虽然没有人确切知道，但人们普遍认为这些小蝎子最初是在爱德华七世统治时期，在意大利砖石的定期航运中作为偷渡者，偶然发现进入英国的。Euscorpius flavicaudis有时被称为它们的同义词Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis。这个蝎子入侵的成功，它很可能是由于多年来偶然“偷渡者”多次累加导致的结果。
Although the majority of the Sheerness scorpions live within the relative safety of the private docks some specimens can be found on the south-facing wall that surrounds the docks, which is accessible to the public. The Yellow-Tailed Scorpion is native to much of Western and Southern Europe, including France, Italy and Spain as well as Northwest Africa, where it is usually recorded at altitudes below 500m. These tiny scorpions prefer dry and humid habitats, including forests, fields and parks, but are often also found in or around human habitations as well. Like other species of scorpion the Yellow-Tailed Scorpion's body is covered in tiny hairs that are able to detect the slightest movements or vibrations from its surroundings.
尽管在希尔内斯私人码头生活相对安全，但有一些个体也会在码头周围朝南的墙体上被大众找到。黄尾蝎原产于西欧和南欧的大部分地区，包括法国、意大利、西班牙以及非洲西北部，在那些地区，它通常被记录于海拔500米以下的地方。这些小蝎子喜欢干燥潮湿（译注：这里我也没有理解dry and humid究竟是干旱还是潮湿，暂理解为基质干燥空气潮湿，这样也符合沿海墙壁的特点）的栖息地，包括森林、田野和公园，但也经常在人类居住地附近发现。像其他种蝎子一样，黄尾蝎的身体上覆盖着细微的毛，能够探测到周围最轻微的运动或振动。
The Yellow-Tailed Scorpions are the most northerly species of scorpion in the world and it is their tolerance to cold temperatures and their ability to adapt that has allowed them to thrive in the UK's cooler climate at Sheerness. During the colder months these scorpions remain inactive deep within the dock wall or under rocks and railway sleepers etc. Tim Benton's studies in the late 1980's measured the internal temperature of the Old Dockyard Wall during the winter. It was found that the temperature in the middle of the Great Dockyard Wall would only drop to around 3 degrees during the coldest spells of winter. The Yellow-Tailed Scorpion can survive temperatures at least as low as -7 degrees, so the UK's winters are not a problem for this hardy species at Sheerness.
黄尾蝎是世界上最靠北分布的蝎子物种，它们对低温的耐受性和适应能力让他们能在英国希尔内斯更冷的气候条件下茁壮成长。在寒季，这种蝎子在码头墙壁、岩石下和枕木下方等深处不活动。20世纪80年代末，Tim Benton的一项研究测量了冬天时旧码头墙壁的内部温度。人们发现，在冬天最冷的时候，旧码头墙壁中间的内部温度也只会降到3℃左右。最低到-7℃黄尾蝎都能存活，所以对这种能吃苦的物种来说，英国的冬天不算什么。
No one knows exactly why the Yellow-Tailed Scorpions have managed to successfully breed and thrive at the Sheerness Docks when all other introduced populations of these scorpions have failed within a few years at other sites across the UK. It could be significant factor that the Isle of Sheppey has a relatively low mean annual rainfall of just 18 inches, compared to that of 24 inches for London and 60 inches for Devon and Cornwall? The average rainfall recorded at coastal sites across the UK is typically twice that of the average rainfall at Sheerness.
为什么在希尔内斯码头黄尾蝎能成功繁殖并茁壮成长，而在英国其他地方这种蝎子的种群引进都失败了，没有人确切知道这一点。与伦敦的24英寸和德文郡、康沃尔的60英寸相比，谢皮岛年平均降雨量相对较低，只有18英寸，这可能是一个重要的因素。英国沿海地区所记录的降雨量通常是希尔内斯平均降雨量的两倍。
Sheerness Port was originally built in 1665 as a Royal Navy dockyard and fort, and was rebuilt with the Great Dockyard Wall in 1823. The Great Dockyard Wall, along with the now ruined army barracks and various other old buildings within the docks, are all constructed using the same brickwork, that appears to be particularly favourable to the Yellow-Tailed Scorpions. This is likely to be due to the soft mortar between the bricks, that allows the scorpions to tunnel into the walls, as well as the 66cm depth of the wall that allows the scorpions to escape freezing temperatures during the winter months. Within the grounds of Sheerness Docks are gardens, allotments and areas of rough ground, which favour all manor of insect life, providing an ample and constant supply of insect prey for the Yellow-Tailed Scorpions. In addition, areas of the north face of the Great Dockyard Wall have ivy climbing the wall and overhanging trees which also provide a rich environment for insect prey for the scorpions, which don't need to feed very often.
希尔内斯港口最初建于1665年，是皇家海军的船坞和堡垒，1823年重建了港口城墙。港口城墙和现在被毁的军营及其他码头内的各种老建筑都是用同样的砖石建造的，这对黄尾蝎似乎特别有利。这可能是由于砖之间的软灰泥，使蝎子可以钻到墙壁里，同时墙壁有66厘米厚，使蝎子可以在冬季的几个月避免达到冰点。在希尔内斯码头内是花园、分发场和粗糙的地面，这是一座对各种昆虫都宜居的庄园。，它为黄尾蝎提供了充足持续的昆虫猎物。此外，围墙北侧的爬山虎和悬垂的树木也为蝎子提供了丰富的捕食昆虫的环境，而这个环境不需要经常养护。
One reason why these scorpions haven't spread much beyond the confinement of the docks is the remote location of the Sheerness Docks. With the river on one side of the docks and man-made defence moats and busy roads surrounding the docks they are stranded on an island within an island at Sheerness Docks. Although escapes must occur they don't happen in large enough numbers to establish any viable new colonies of scorpions away from the docks.
这种蝎子没有扩散到码头以外的地方的原因之一是因为希尔内斯码头地处偏僻。由于河流在码头一侧，人造护城河和船流一直在码头环绕，它们就被困在希尔内斯码头——一个岛中岛。尽管“逃脱者”必然存在，但他们数量太少，不足以在远离码头任何地方建立起任何可占据的种群栖息地。
Most residents, that I have spoken to, in the area of the Sheerness Docks, not only accept the scorpions as part of the local fauna but they are actually proud of their novel arachnid neighbours and the claim to fame that they bring to the town. Local schools have even organised evening trips to visit the Great Dockyard Wall and guide the children as they look for the scorpions at night. Jenny Hurkett, the founder of the Blue Town Heritage Centre at the Criterion Theatre, Sheerness, has two preserved specimens on display for anyone interested in seeing what they look like.
在希尔内斯码头地区，大多数和我交谈过的居民不仅认为这种蝎子是当地动物的一部分，他们事实上还为这种新鲜的蛛形纲邻居及它们为小镇带来的名声感到骄傲。当地的学校甚至组织了码头围墙的夜游，在晚上引导孩子们寻找蝎子。Jenny Hurkett，希尔内斯Criterion Theatre蓝色小镇遗产中心的创始人，展出了两份保存完好的标本，所有有兴趣的人都可以看。
The Yellow-Tailed Scorpion is a fairly small scorpion species reaching a maximum size of around 20-25mm body-length and 35-45mm including tail and pincers. These small scorpions have large pincers for their size, and a short, thin, stinging tail. This tail can only deliver a very mild sting to a human. However, the Yellow-Tailed Scorpion is usually very reluctant to use its sting though, even when hunting these scorpions rely mainly on their powerful pincers to subdue their prey. The effect of the sting to humans is a mere pin-prick to most people and is said to be less painful than the sting of a bee or wasp. The sting usually poses no threat to healthy adult humans at all, although medical advice should be sought if you feel unwell following a sting in case of an allergic reaction.
黄尾蝎是一种相当小的蝎子物种，最大体长约20-25毫米，包括尾巴和钳子在内的最大体长约35-45毫米。这些小蝎子的钳子相对于它们的体型来说很大，还有一条短而细的带刺尾巴。这种尾巴只能给人类带来非常轻微的刺痛。然而，黄尾蝎子通常很不情愿使用它的刺，即使在捕猎时，这些蝎子主要依靠它们有力的钳子来制服它们的猎物。这种刺痛对人类的影响对多数人来说只是针刺，据说比蜜蜂或黄蜂的刺痛要小。这种螫伤通常对健康的成年人完全没有威胁，但如果你在螫伤后感到不适，为防止过敏反应，还是应寻求医疗建议。
In southern Europe, where these scorpions are native, there are recent records though of more severe reactions to the sting of the Yellow-Tailed Scorpion by children. One such incident was in the South of France back in 2019, where a 10 year old boy was stung on the hand whilst handling a Yellow-Tailed Scorpion. His symptoms included localised pain, sweating, nausea, abdominal cramps, decreasing muscular strength and an inability to raise his arm above shoulder level. These symptoms past after 72 hours with no long-term effects. It is likely that this extreme reaction is partly due to the child's sensitivity to the venom and the time of year the incident occurred. The venom of the scorpion would have been of a much higher concentration than usual as the sting occurred in winter when the scorpion would have previously been inactive for some time.
在这些蝎子的原产地南欧，最近有记录显示儿童对黄尾蝎子的螫伤反应更严重。2019年在法国南部发生了一起这样的事件，一名10岁男孩在手持一只黄尾蝎子时被蜇伤了手。他的症状包括局部疼痛、出汗、恶心、腹部痉挛、肌肉力量下降和无法举手过肩。这些症状在72小时后消失，没有长期影响。这种极端的反应可能部分是由于孩子对毒液的敏感，以及事件在一年中发生的时间点——因为螫伤发生在冬天，那时蝎子已经有一段时间不活动了，蝎子的毒液浓度会比平时高得多。 （链接略）
I have handled several specimens of these scorpions myself with my bare hands and have never experienced any signs of aggressive or defensive behaviour from any of them. However this doesn't mean that I would encourage anyone else to ever handle wild scorpions.
我亲手拿过几只这种蝎子个体，从来没有经历过它们有任何攻击性或防御性行为的迹象。然而，这并不意味着我会鼓励其他人去让野生蝎子上手。
These scorpions hide themselves away for most of their lives becoming active only to feed and breed, usually on warm evenings. Despite their preference for warm weather these hardy scorpions have even been recorded at Sheerness in every month of the year except January. I have personally seen them at Sheerness in both November and February, in small numbers, when the evening temperatures were around 7-9 degrees. At this time of year the scorpions were largely inactive, and were found hiding at the outer edge of the cracks in the mortar of the Great Dockyard Wall. Yellow-Tailed Scorpions feed on any insects or spiders that come within range, with a preference for woodlice. Because of their incredibly slow metabolism it is thought that they may only need to feed as few as 4-5 times a year during the summer months, and can survive for long periods between meals. Whilst largely a nocturnal ambush predator Yellow-Tailed Scorpions will leave their hiding place and actively search for prey on occasion.
这些蝎子一生的大部分时间都躲起来，只有在温暖的夜晚才会活跃起来觅食和繁殖。尽管它们喜欢温暖的天气，甚至在一年中除了一月之外的每个月这些顽强的蝎子都在希尔内斯有记录。我个人在11月和2月都在希尔内斯看到过它们，数量很少，当时晚上的温度在7-9℃左右。在每年的这个时候，蝎子大多不活动，他们被发现藏在码头围墙灰泥裂缝的外缘。黄尾蝎子以领地内的任何昆虫或蜘蛛为食，偏爱木虱。由于它们的新陈代谢极慢，人们认为它们可能只需要在夏季的几个月里每年进食4-5次，并且可以在两次进食之间存活很长一段时间。虽然黄尾蝎子主要是夜间埋伏的捕食者，但它们偶尔会离开藏身之处积极寻找猎物。
(中间大段关于蝎类共性特点的描述留在下篇翻译，此处暂略)
Yellow-Tailed Scorpions are not generally a communal species and cannibalism does occur if keeping more than one of these scorpions in the same enclosure, just as it does in the wild. Following mating, which usually occurs in June, July and August, the long gestation period of the female scorpion is between 10 and 14 months, depending on the temperature and the quantity and quality of food available. The female then gives birth to the fertilised eggs when they are ready to hatch. Once laid the eggs hatch immediately and the number of tiny scorplings can range from 4-30 individuals, that are born soft and white. The female carries these tiny scorpions on her back until they are too large to all fit on her back. This can vary from one to eight weeks. Excellent photos of a female Euscorpius sp. carrying her newly hatched scorplings can be seen here:
黄尾蝎通常不群居，如果在同一个环境中饲养一只以上的黄尾蝎，就会发生同类相食的情况，就像在野外一样。交配通常发生在6月、7月和8月，雌性蝎子的漫长怀孕期在10到14个月之间，这取决于温度和能抓到食物的数量和质量。当雌性准备孵化时，她们会产下受精卵。一旦产下卵立即孵化，（译注：此处是指产下蝎苗便立即上背）蝎苗的数量可以在4-30只之间，出生时是白色且很软。雌性蜘蛛把这些小蝎子背在背上，直到它们大到无法全部背在背上。这段时间从1周到8周不等。在这里可以看到一只雌性真蝎带着她刚孵出的小树苗的优秀照片（链接略）
As with many species of spider it is not unusual for a mature male Yellow-Tailed Scorpion to stand guard over a viable female mate until she is mature and ready to to copulate. At this stage the male will hold onto the tips of the female's pincers and the two scorpions will begin to circle each other in the "dance of the scorpions". The male will then deposit his sperm-sac on the ground and drag the female until she is directly over it. The female will then collect the sperm package through her sexual opening. Due to the long gestation period female Yellow-Tailed Scorpions will only mate once per year, and not every year. Males may mate with several different partners in a single year, but females will always choose the larger and more dominant males to mate with.
和许多种类的蜘蛛一样，一只性成熟的雄性黄尾蝎会守护一个可以追求的雌性伴侣，直到她性成熟并准备交配。在这个阶段，雄蝎子会抓住雌蝎子的钳子尖，两只蝎子会开始在“蝎子之舞”中互相绕圈。然后，雄性会把他的精荚放在地上，然后拖着雌性，直到她在正上面。然后雌性会通过她的生殖口收集精囊。由于怀孕期长，雌性黄尾蝎子每年只交配一次，且不是每年都交配。雄性在一年中可能会与几个不同的伴侣交配，但雌性总是选择更大、更有优势的雄性交配。
Scorpions have a very basic digestive system. All prey is caught using the powerful pincers and then brought to the jaws where it is effectively chopped into very fine particles and reduced to liquid form that can be sucked up into the mouth of the scorpion. As with snakes the venom of the scorpion not only stuns or kills its prey but may also aid with the digestion process too. Prey items are usually eaten head first and one meal generally takes several hours to consume.
时间有限，本文暂翻译到这。对于饲养来说，上述材料足以提供饲养思路。后文作者写了希尔内斯码头未来的影响、英国其他地区所谓的黄尾蝎目击事件，内容十分丰富有趣，我也再次为国外蝎子爱好者的探究精神所折服，日后有空再搬运。
