Summary of Four-Season Management Experience for Raising Scorpions in a Greenhouse

Raising scorpions in a greenhouse is a new artificial high-efficiency scorpion-raising technique created on the principle of the complementarity of respiration between animals and plants and the common basis of their growth. It has the advantages of a high survival rate of young scorpions, extensive management, low investment and high returns.

The four-season management methods are as follows:

Spring management: after hibernation, scorpions are weak, and in early spring the temperature rises and falls unpredictably, which is unsuitable for scorpion activity, so attention must be paid to keeping them warm. After Qingming, when the temperature rises above 10°C, the scorpions awaken from hibernation and more scorpions come out of their burrows to be active at night. At this time, the soil water content in the activity area should preferably be 15%-20%, and the relative air humidity should preferably be 70%-80%. On warm, clear noons, a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution at 40°C can be sprayed on the scorpion nests and flowers and plants to regulate air humidity, so that scorpions of all ages can regulate the physiological water in their bodies by themselves. However, the temperature is still unstable at this time, and in cold, overcast weather the scorpions still remain dormant and motionless. Generally, do not provide food or water at this time, so as to avoid death caused by overeating and abdominal distension from feeding too early.

Summer management: after Lixia, when the temperature rises above 20°C, the scorpions begin to be active and search for food, and at this time food and water should begin to be provided. The amount of food provided should be properly controlled and must not be too much. Generally feed once every three to five days; feed more when the temperature is high and less when it is low, and the cold-proof and heat-preserving equipment can be gradually removed. After Mangzhong, when the temperature rises above 25°C, the scorpion colony enters its peak growth season, food intake increases, and digestive capacity clearly improves, so the amount and frequency of food and water provided should be increased. After Xiazhi comes the period with the highest temperature of the year, and also the key period for scorpion growth and reproduction; the scorpions' feed requirements should be met, and it is best to feed once a day. Attention should be paid to frequently spraying water in a fine mist on the stacked structures in the scorpion pool to increase humidity and lower temperature; water must not be poured directly into the scorpion nests. In the high-temperature season, generally spray water once every 1 to 2 days on the scorpion nests and flowers and plants, so that the soil water content remains at 20%-30% and the relative air humidity remains at 75%-85%.

Autumn management: after Qiufen, scorpions of all ages greatly increase their food intake, have vigorous metabolism and store nutrients. The key management points are: first, there is more rain in autumn, so the scorpions' drinking water should be quickly reduced and direct water supply stopped. The humidity of the habitat should be controlled at 80%; if it is too wet, some dry weathered soil can be scattered to regulate it. Second, pick out the old, weak and disabled scorpions that have lost reproductive capacity and process and dry them. Third, feed some multi-variety meat feeds, such as: Tenebrio molitor, black soldier fly larvae, young ground beetles, etc., so that the scorpions grow fat and strong and lay a good foundation for safely overwintering.

Winter management: after Shuangjiang, as the temperature drops sharply, the Chinese scorpion stops activity and feeding and begins to enter hibernation. After hibernation, attention must be paid to preventing freezing, and straw can be used to protect the area around the scorpion nests. In addition, in winter the scorpion nests must be tightly covered, frequently inspected, and all cracks plugged to prevent the invasion of cold wind. In particular, rats must be prevented from invading the scorpion nests and biting the scorpions to death. During the hibernation stage, do not turn over the scorpion nests, keep the environment quiet, and do not smoke in the scorpion-raising room. Prevent all chemical gases or medicines from entering the scorpion-raising room. If constant-temperature scorpion raising is carried out, methods such as building heated brick beds, burning heating, covering straw curtains and covering plastic film can be used for heating, so that the temperature of the scorpion room remains between 25°C-38°C, breaking the scorpions' hibernation habit and enabling them to continue to grow, develop and reproduce. Under these temperature conditions, the flowers and plants in the scorpion nests grow vigorously, thereby regulating the air in the scorpion room and balancing the humidity, achieving the double benefit of raising scorpions and growing flowers.