Dominik Boesl
Risk to humans
HarmlessNo medical venom risk
No medically significant venom. Do not pick it up anyway — watch it and leave it where it is.
Key facts in one look
- Group
- Scorpion; Arachnida, Scorpiones
- Family
- Euscorpiidae
- Status in Georgia
- Recorded in Abkhazia, Adjara, and Imereti
- Size
- Adults up to about 50 mm
- Habitat
- Warm creviced places, often human-associated
- Human risk
- Harmless; do not handle
The Italian scorpion (Euscorpius italicus) is native to Georgia and, based on available data, is not considered a major risk to human health. The effects of its sting are mostly limited to the sting site. It is fairly large compared with other Euscorpius species: adults grow to about 50 mm. It is a true scorpion and belongs to the arachnids (Arachnida). It is part of the Euscorpiidae family and is recognized as a distinct species. Georgia lies within this scorpion's natural range, and its presence here is confirmed. In western Georgia it has been recorded in Batumi, Kobuleti, Ortabatumi, Ozurgeti, Kutaisi, Zestafoni, Zugdidi and Gagra. By region, it is recorded in Abkhazia, Adjara and Imereti. In Guria, Kakheti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, there are only isolated finds so far.
Identification
Italian scorpion: how to identify it
Euscorpius italicus is a relatively large scorpion of the Euscorpius type. It has a dark body, strong pincers and a relatively short, thin tail. Other scorpions also live in Georgia, so it is hard to identify the species reliably from its general appearance alone. A good close-up photo and knowing where you found the scorpion will help a lot with identification.
Among Euscorpius species, Euscorpius italicus is one of the relatively large ones. An adult scorpion can reach a total length of about 50 mm.
The body is usually dark brown, while the legs and tip of the tail may be lighter, yellowish brown. The pincers are strong and thick, and the tail is short and slender compared with the body.
You often cannot tell species of Euscorpius and the related Alpiscorpius apart accurately by color or size alone. This may require a close look at small details of the body and an expert’s assessment.
In Georgia, the mottled scorpion (Mesobuthus eupeus) is found more often in dry, open places. The Italian scorpion, by contrast, is often found in warm spots: near buildings, in cracks in walls and in other shelters. The two species belong to different families: the mottled scorpion to Buthidae, the Italian scorpion to Euscorpiidae. Where you found a scorpion can also help you identify it.
The Italian scorpion is a scorpion of warm places and occurs over a wide area. It lives in ruins, buildings and wall cracks, under stones and in other sheltered spots. Sometimes it may also turn up where people live. In Georgia, too, it is found in places changed by people. So a Euscorpius-type scorpion found in a yard, a wall crack or near a building could be Euscorpius italicus. But you cannot tell its species for certain just from where you found it.
The Italian scorpion map combines Reptiles.ge editorial photo records, Georgian Biodiversity Database localities, and public iNaturalist observations. Regions are taken from the records-by-region table, and the status column separates regions with enough records from regions with too few records.
Data: Reptiles.ge + iNaturalist · Methodology
- Field observation
- Several records in one spot
- Photo record
- Region with records
Like other scorpions, the Italian scorpion is a predator. It hunts small insects and similar animals. It grabs its prey with its strong pincers, then subdues it with its stinger and venom.
The Italian scorpion keeps out of sight. By day it often hides under stones, in cracks in walls or buildings, or in other shelters. It is more likely to be active in the evening and at night. Do not pick the scorpion up. If you must move it in your home or yard, use a container and a stiff card so you don't touch it, or call a specialist. Clear photos from above and from the side, and knowing exactly where it was found, are especially helpful for identifying it accurately.
butterfly_fly · Dominik Boesl · Gintautas Steiblys · Sandro Khakhva · Markus Ackermann · Emanuele Santarelli · Zakro Songulashvili · Matvei Bogdanov
Related guides
Continue with related pages
Yes. The Italian scorpion has been confirmed in Georgia. It lives here naturally and is found in several parts of the country.
In Georgia, Euscorpius italicus has been recorded in Abkhazia, Adjara and Imereti. In Guria, Kakheti, Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti, and Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti, there are so far only isolated finds.
Euscorpius italicus is relatively large among Euscorpius species. It has a dark body, strong pincers and a short, thin tail. Colour and size alone will not tell you the exact species. So it is best to have a clear close-up photo and to know exactly where the scorpion was found.
The Italian scorpion is not considered particularly dangerous to human health. Its sting can be painful, but as far as is known, the effects mainly stay at the sting site. Still, do not touch a scorpion with your hands. If the pain is severe or a child has been stung, see a doctor promptly. Call 112 if the person who was stung has trouble breathing, loses consciousness or develops other severe symptoms. See the guide for the first steps to take.
If you need to move a scorpion, do not touch it directly. Place a container over it, carefully slide a stiff card underneath the container, and carry the scorpion to a safe place that way. If you cannot do this safely, contact a specialist. Do not let children or pets touch the scorpion.
The Italian scorpion (Euscorpius italicus) is native to Georgia. But that does not mean it is found in every region of the country. In Georgia, it has been recorded in Abkhazia, Adjara and Imereti.
References
What this profile is based on
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Prepared by the Reptiles.ge editorial team from the sources listed here.
