Scorpions and centipedes
Large brown scorpions are common in gardens and forests throughout eastern Queensland and found under logs and rocks and in shallow burrows in earth banks. The tail sting is not known to be dangerous and the scorpion usually retreats rather than fights.
Large golden scorpions include some of the biggest scorpions in Queensland and are common and west of the Great Dividing Range. The sting is not known to be dangerous.
Common garden centipedes may reach 15cm and are found throughout northern Australia. They live in logs and spaces formed between rubbish and even newspapers. They move rapidly and bite with two powerful "jaws" below the head. The bite causes severe pain which may last several days but no deaths have been recorded from the bite.
Ways to avoid being bitten include:
- Do not put hands, feet or head into or near a spider’s web or a spider may drop or rush out and bite.
- Do not put hands, feet or head into gloves, helmets or boots without checking.
- Fold clothes inside out before taking them inside.
- Do not provoke, poke or blow on spiders or they will jump and bite.
- Do not crush anything you feel walking on you. Get somebody to knock it off. Spider juices are often toxic or bacterially dangerous.
- Strip beds and remake before going to sleep.
- Ensure bed clothing of babies or infants does not hang on to the bedroom floor.
Last updated July 25, 2005