Uroctonus mordax

[Alex S.]

Uroctonus mordax (Vaejovidae)

Size: Adult female, aprox. 2 inches.

I was insect and arachnid collecting in coastal forests of northern California. Among various arthropod specimens collected was a single female U. mordax. I handled her when doing maintenance in the enclosure. While handling I tried to coax her back into the enclosure by slightly tapping the segment below the telson. She defensively threw the telson back into the side of my thumb. The symptoms were itching and slight redness of the sting area for about 2 days.

Alex S.

[Stagger-Lee]

-stung 42 times by assorted sexes and sizes. :eek:
-initial pain is a burning type level 3-5 on a scale of 1-10 5 being bumble bee. sometimes it dulls to nothing in a few minutes sometimes swellign occures and a sore burise developes at the sting site which heals into a gosh awful bump that peels. effects lasted 3-15 days depending.

[dtknow]

Attempted to tail a female U. mordax that had her tail flat against the floor which meant it was hard to pick up. Definite burning sensation for a minute or two which faded soon after. Perhaps their stings are worse when they really are mad but I'd take this over a paper cut.

[Mr. Mordax]

This afternoon I had a BugZoo presentation at an area middle school. I was handling an adult female and trying to scootch her onto a student's hand by nudging he from behind. She gave me a brief tail-flick before moving. I felt a slight prick similar to when my H. paucidens stung me, so I thought perhaps she connected.

After about a minute or two I felt a very slight tingling in the tip of the finger she stung. This passed after about five to ten minutes.

From the other reports I've read I expected something a bit more than this. It wasn't a dry sting, but it was close to it -- I'm guessing just the equivalent of a "warning shot."

I can say with certainty this was less painful than my H. paucidens sting.

[Mr. Mordax]

Same female, similar circumstances -- tailing her out of a small tank for a demo.

Same effects.

Eventually I need to experience something more powerful than a warning shot.