The scorpion’s sting, located at the tip of what is known as the ‘metasoma’, comprises two major parts. At the base of the sting is a swollen area known as the telson. This contains the two venom glands. The rear part of the telson forms a sharp stinger called the aculeus.

The sting apparatus functions like a hypodermic needle. Two ducts run from the venom glands to openings in the tip of the aculeus. When the scorpion stings, muscles press the venom glands against the wall of the telson, squeezing venom through the hollow aculeus into the wound. This process is under the voluntary control of the scorpion, and the scorpion is capable of stinging without injecting any venom if it so chooses.

On close inspection of this photo, it appears that this particular scorpion, found crossing the sandy road in Francois Peron National Park, was quite ready to go all out and inject a tiny drop of venom – a shining transparent globule visible at the tip of the aculeus.

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