Nomadinexile's 2011 collecting reports.

I hope this will be a running thread of collecting reports and photos this year. I don't have my camera just yet, but should soon. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post here, pm, or email me. Any requests to purchase or trade for species I collect should be done in private as those posts do not belong here, thanks for your cooperation.

As a side note, if you want to follow my travels more closely, feel free to friend me on facebook. I'm Ryan Moyer (my picture is a fluorescing scorpion).

First collecting trip of this year was a pleasant and successful one. I'm visiting a friend in Sonoma, CA at the moment and we decided to go hiking just north of Glen Ellen, CA in Sonoma County. Area was a small hill with lots of open areas with some trees and rocks. We took it easy as this was a really more of a pleasure hike than hunt, but I still found 9 Uroctonus mordax. These were all found underneath rotting fallen trees. I looked under rocks and smaller tree limb falls to no avail. They were all found under fallen trees at least 12 inches in diameter or larger. It was a beautiful day, a nice hike, and I found my first Urocotonus mordax.

Damn Britains lack of wild scorpions! The trip sounds like great fun. Any pics to share?

You can always make a trip around Europe for scorp hunting and use the occasion to meet some fellow SF members as well.

Hopefully, I will personally get the chance to visit UK and get a couple of Flavicaudis for the collection

DolbyR wrote:

You can always make a trip around Europe for scorp hunting and use the occasion to meet some fellow SF members as well.

Hopefully, I will personally get the chance to visit UK and get a couple of Flavicaudis for the collection

thats a good idea lol we are gonna have to get up there soon, they can fill my empty tanks hehehe

U. mordax, eh? I used to catch a bunch of those guys near Corvallis, Oregon. I was in Santa Rosa last October for a bike ride and I'll be heading back this year -- but taking a few more vacation days to extend the trip.

Hey Nomad, can't wait for those pics

DolbyR wrote:

You can always make a trip around Europe for scorp hunting and use the occasion to meet some fellow SF members as well.

Hopefully, I will personally get the chance to visit UK and get a couple of Flavicaudis for the collection

Only thing with this is trying to take them back, not the easiest or cheapest thing to do. With having to have a permit and the inspection fee and what not, pretty pricey.

Neal wrote:

DolbyR wrote:

You can always make a trip around Europe for scorp hunting and use the occasion to meet some fellow SF members as well.

Hopefully, I will personally get the chance to visit UK and get a couple of Flavicaudis for the collection

Only thing with this is trying to take them back, not the easiest or cheapest thing to do. With having to have a permit and the inspection fee and what not, pretty pricey.

Good point -- I've talked to Department of Fish and Wildlife folks, and it's pretty awkward. You have to bring them in through an approved port, fill out paperwork, etc.

I'd just stick to U. mordax. They look enough alike to Euscorpis flavicaudis to satisy me, anyway.

Thanks for the replys everyone!

To the jealous brit: Camera and black light are coming in the mail today I hope. If you are jealous now though, just wait until I get into the deserts!

To Mr.Mordax: I'm not far from Santa Rosa. Just a hop down 12. If you go a little further north (lake/sonoma line) or east (Napa), you could add 3-4 more species, including a couple Pseudouroctonus and S. gertchi.

I'll start posting pictures as soon as I can everyone!

Nomadinexile wrote:

To Mr.Mordax: I'm not far from Santa Rosa. Just a hop down 12. If you go a little further north (lake/sonoma line) or east (Napa), you could add 3-4 more species, including a couple Pseudouroctonus and S. gertchi.

Sweet! I'll definitely be brining the blacklight come October. We may also be stopping in Redding, and the area we'll be at looks like prime habitat for something.

Mordax, did you speak to state fish & wildlife or federal?

Santa Rosa is a great place! I used to live there!
Mike is that Neal dude supposed to be banned?? WTF?

iitomodachi1 wrote:

Santa Rosa is a great place! I used to live there!
Mike is that Neal dude supposed to be banned?? WTF?

Wtf indeed!

It's alright guys, I think they reached an agreement. Besides, it's just not worth it! By the way, Nomad, I was wondering if you see any alligator lizards on your herping trips--they're awesome critters.

The things that went down were discussed between the admins and myself, because I was aware of the situation however I was not the person doing it, thing are alright now.

Only once. In Austin, TX alligator lizard. Awesome creature. I hope to see more of them. I also want to see a gila monster one of these days.


*edit* I knew I had a picture of it. Found underneath a huge rock.

https://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt279/Nomadinexile/Reptiles%20and%20Amphibians/?action=view¤t=IMG_4294.jpg

Nomadinexile wrote:

To the jealous brit: Camera and black light are coming in the mail today I hope. If you are jealous now though, just wait until I get into the deserts!

Yes I admit I am jealous! Look forward to seeing some mad desert pics. Love that "Texas Welcome" photo in your pics.

I certainly would be as well brit! Can't wait to get more pictures and share them with everyone! Just got the camera in the mail today. Now if I could just make the thing take a good picture. :wall: (not the same camera that I used for TX welcome, but a new canon that I think is a lemon.) I'll work on it though.

Neal wrote:

DolbyR wrote:

You can always make a trip around Europe for scorp hunting and use the occasion to meet some fellow SF members as well.

Hopefully, I will personally get the chance to visit UK and get a couple of Flavicaudis for the collection

Only thing with this is trying to take them back, not the easiest or cheapest thing to do. With having to have a permit and the inspection fee and what not, pretty pricey.

That was actually meant for the European fellows in the forum, sorry for not being clear enough.
There's quite a few interesting species specially around Greece and Turkey. I haven't researched how the things are with scorpions, but I've heard for Ts you don't need documentation for passing the borders within the EU (must still check how legit this info is). Taken in consideration that most online dealers ship with no problems within the EU, I suppose it should not be a big deal.

I've been to Greece and Turkey, if only I was into scorpions this much then I'd have took a blackight. I got to get myself a couple flavicaudis this year.

Heading to S. az, keep your eyes open for my upcoming posts! bye for a while...

Sweet pic of that lizard, especially with its tongue out. Good luck on your trek!

Thanks HL! I just found out though, that I can't make it to AZ. I'm having some funding issues lets say.

The good news though, is that I should be able to spend time collecting in socal though. I need to make some money first, and I'm running out of time, but I should be able to get out to mojave once or twice in the next month. Then it's time to head up north for work.

I'll post as soon as I get out there. ~r

Just a quick update for anyone interested:

Plan right now is to get up $30 or so, and bus to riverside, then get a ride to indio. Then I plan on walking towards the salton sea. If anyone has any suggestions, comments, or knowledge of the species/area/etc. they would like to share, please do. Hoping to go this weekend when temps will be high 90's day, 60's night. Should be perfect for the scorps! ~r