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The MUST DO Trip for Scorpion Enthusiasts

Hosted by Mark A. Newton BSc

Are you a Scorpion Enthusiast?

If so - this could be the trip you MUST take!

Who would be suited to this trip and what should I expect? Most importantly you should be a scorpion enthusiast, first and foremost. Secondly you must be someone that doesnt mind roughing it. The vehicle we will travel in is an old model Toyota Landcrusier station wagon, it is NOT airconditioned and is only moderately comfortable. The entire trip is about 3.5 hours one way. The mallee can be hot and uncomfortable during summer and cold in spring and autumn. Be prepared for extreme conditions, including rain. On the positive side, there is usually a breeze, always shade somewhere and the country never feels hot like the city does. The stars in the mallee are a site to see, the skies are incredibly clear and its a very tranquil, quiet place.

Other forms of life are also plentiful including reptiles, birds and mammals. Along with scorpions, many other forms of arthropod inhabit the various ecosystems, so there will be much to explore and see, especially if you have not ventured into the mallee before.

Can I collect scorpions to take back? In short yes. There will be limitations on how many scorpions can be collected. So that populations are not pillaged, I allow a maximum of 10 scorpions from each species to be collected per person. Camping will be in different locations for each trip so as to have minimal impact on populations.

Pouring of lead casts: You will be allowed to take back home with you one lead cast of a burrow. You can pour as many as you like.

Description: Dont miss this opportunity. If you love the bush, scorpions and desert sands this trip will blow you away!
Spend 3 nights and 4 days involved in a variety of scorpion related activities. Mark Newton, your experienced scorpion host will explain the ecology of mallee species on location. You will see first hand the burrows of Urodacus species including yaschenkoi and armatus. You will learn how to dig up meandering scorpion burrows, set scorpion pit traps and pour your own lead burrow casts, one of which you can take back home with you. Spend the nights under the stars with a supplied black light looking for a number of possible species.

2 consecutive nights will be spent sleeping in mallee bushland and the last night under the roof of a 3 bedroom house on a 10 acre property on the edge of the mallee, just 3 kilometres from the Murray river.

Watch out for many different species of reptiles, birds and invertebrates, the mallee is an incredible ecosystem.

Itinery:

Day 1: After making your own way to Adelaide you will be picked up and travel by sealed road to home base, located in the riverside town of Morgan, about 160km NE of Adelaide. Leaving time from Adelaide will be around 9:00am. Once arriving at home base we will have a break and some lunch before heading off to the mallee camping area. Lunch is NOT supplied on the first and last days due to the difficulty of unpacking the trailer. Bring some money to purchase your own lunch on these days. Morgan has a bakery, producing quality fresh baked food daily.
The camping area is about 120 km NE of Morgan and is accessed via dirt road. Arrival will be some time in the mid-late afternoon. Camp site will be established, tents set up (I supply tents - you set up). If light allows there will be some investigation of burrows and habitat before tea. After tea the evenings blacklighting will be discussed and planned. -Sleep-

Day 2: A fresh mallee rise followed by a cuppa and some tucka will prepare us for a thorough look at the scorpions located during the prior nights blacklighting activities. The day will be spent looking at the habitat and its inhabitants with emphasis on scorpions. During the course of the day Mark will demonstrate how to dig a scorpion up from the base of its burrow, set scorpion pit traps and pour lead casts. Traps will be established for the second night. Traps can be checked as soon as the sun goes down. Blacklighting will run for approx 2 hours after dark. Those wishing to continue longer can do so within the vicinity of the camp. Scorpion activity is usually much reduced after about 2 hours. I will have one handheld GPS available for use and a bright lantern established at camp which will help you keep track of the camp site. Becoming lost at night is a real possibility and one we wish to avoid. Short distance hand held radios will also be supplied. -Sleep-

Day 3: No rush to get out of bed, two late nights may have knocked you out. Breakfast cuppa and tucka followed by checking all pit traps. Today is the day to pour lead burrow casts from the burrows of trapped scorpions. Continuation of the prior days activities and discussions. Heading back to home base after lunch - no hurry, plenty of time to look around. On return, take a swim in the Murray river if you wish. Return to home base for tea. Local black lighting if the group desires. There are plenty of local public areas with some limestone mallee habitats which will harbour different species.

Day 4: Early up, cuppa and tucka followed by some relaxing and discussions before packing up and returning to Adelaide. We will aim to leave Morgan by about midday after lunch. Bring some money to purchase your own lunch at the town bakery.
You will be dropped off at your preferred location in Adelaide, which must be on the northern side. If you wish to travel to the southern districts you will need to establish your own transport to that area.

What type of habitat will the camp be in?
We will camp in a location that will give access to 3 major habitat types as shown below. Each habitat has predominant species, with some occuring in more than one habitat type and others occuring syntopically in zones of overlap between habitat types.

Habitat type 1:
This habitat is a loose sandy environment with the predominant plant forms being Triodia sp (porcupine grasses) and mallee eucalypts.

Species common to this habitat are Urodacus yaschenkoi, Lychas armatus, Isometroides spp

Habitat type 2:

Flood plains are a different habitat again with the surrounding shoreline areas and adjacent soils being unique enough to harbour different species such as:
Lychas buchari, Lychas spinatus besti, Isometroides spp, Urodacus armatus, Cercophonius squama

Looking across a flood pan

Surrounding areas around flood pans

Habitat type 3:

The most predominant habitat throughout much of the SA mallee is that in which the large native sheoak (Casuarina pauper) grows. The soil is usually rock hard and of a fine, silt-like nature. Triodia spp are absent. Species common to this habitat are: Urodacus armatus, Lychas jonesae, Lychas spinatus besti, Isometroides spp and Cercophonius kershawi

What DO I BRING? --These ITEMS ARE NOT SUPPLIED--

You will need to bring the following:
1) A change of clothing, any bed clothes you wish.
2) A warm jumper in case the nights become cold.
3) Personal hygiene items, such as tooth brush, tooth paste, soap, face towel.
4) Camera equipment, please try to minimise the amount of equipment, we have limited storage room.
5) Any medication or special food items such as sugarine.
6) Strictly NO alcohol or unprescribed drugs
7) Money for purchasing lunch on the first and last days - Friday and Monday. Lunch will be purchased at the towns bakery.

What DONT I need to bring? --THESE ITEMS ARE SUPPLIED--

I will be supplying:
1) Tents - large tent available with 3 rooms to be shared (each room can accommodate a double mattress). Smaller tent also available, will sleep 2-3. You will be asked before the trip how you prefer to sleep etc so we can accommodate where possible. I sleep on my roof rack :D
2) Blow up mattresses - doubles are available
3) Sleeping bags
4) Extra blankets/doonas
5) Pillows (one each)
6) All cooking facilities
7) Black lights
8) Tweezers and storage zip lock bags
9) Basic medical supplies inc general pain killers such as panadol, antacids etc.
10) Fly nets. flies can be a real nuisance in the mallee. You will be given the use of a fly net if you require one.

What Safety Aspects are in PLACE while camping?

NOTE: It is your responsibility to bring any necessary medication and inform me of any medical conditions at the time of booking. Your booking may be rejected if your medical situation is considered not suitable to this type of activity and location.

When making your booking you will be asked to disclose information relating to medical conditions and medication that might be required. I do NOT supply specialised medications or administer them, but I need to have them on record.

You will need to disclose any food allergies, insect bite reactions or if you require foods which are gluten free. Once again, it is your responsibility to be prepared for the trip by bringing with you any medications that you might need.

1) We will be camping on private property about 20-30km away from a manned homestead. Property managers will be aware of our location and duration of stay.
2) The vehicle is equipped with a HF long distance flying doctor Codan radio. I am a paid member of VKS-737 (callsign: Sierra 8110). Some time after arrival I will make voice contact with a base station giving details of location and duration of stay.
3) I have a current Senior First Aid certificate and current Fire Warden certificate. A good quality up to date First Aid kit will be taken on each trip. The vehicle is equipped with a fire extinguisher. I have good experience with camping in remote areas and know the camping area very well.
4) If someone becomes seriously ill they will be transported to the nearest airfield which is located about 45mins drive away at Danggali Conservation Park Headquarters.

ALL this for ONLY $395

Camp Scorpion is owned and operated by Mark A. Newton, registered business ABN: 46 920 135 073