BonaireTalk Discussion Group
Local Items: Scorpions?
Bonaire Talk: Local Items: Archives: Archives 2001- 2004: Archives - 2001-03-08 to 2002-10-17: Scorpions?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous on Monday, June 18, 2001 - 11:24 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I read in the info for one of the accomodations that there are scorions on Bonaire. Anyone had problems with them? Are they mostly ground dwellers, or do they climb the walls, fall on your bed, etc.? Yuck--they scare me.. :-(

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steven Springer on Monday, June 18, 2001 - 4:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

How about any other venomous creatures such as snakes or spiders.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor on Monday, June 18, 2001 - 7:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

In 15 years, I have never had one in my house or even seen a live one in the wild. No to the snakes..some pretty fiest lizards though.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sarah on Monday, June 18, 2001 - 7:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Phew.... that's a relief.. I was beginning to wonder whether I'd have sleepless nights on Bonaire....:)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peggy Bowen on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - 1:49 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Have seen scorpions only a few times on Bonaire - a word of advise - don't leave your wetsuit draped over an old stone wall to dry. Other than that - your resort should be free of them. Scorpions are found on the ground amd in other places are sometime attracted so something cool, dark and wet on the ground. Have never heard of one in a bed!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Gassert on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - 2:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

There are two types of scorpions on the island - red and black (rare). It depends on where you stay if you 'see' any. It also depends on where you hang your wetsuit/polartech. If you hang it wet/damp in a dark locker, be sure to check it before putting it on. Now, most people aren't even aware of scorpions, don't check their stuff and don't get stung. That's how infrequent you see them.

The best defense, if you see one, is to force it into a corner and trap it with a NO WAY OUT situation....they will give up and sting themselves (suicide) :):):) or just stomp on it, but make sure you have shoes on.

Their stings (red) are like a wasp. It will hurt like the dickens for hours. Ice is a good remedy. If you are sensitive to bee stings, bring your bee sting stuff.....your reaction is the same.

In 7 years, I saw a lot, unlike Michael - BUT I was out in the bush as a nature guide, as a naturalist and picking up a lot of trash on the island cleanups.

Hmmmm, Michael, sure you didn't see one on any cleanups? You had your hands in the trash, too.

So, I was exposed to the little critters more than Michael - but, that just goes to show you that one can go 15 years and see NONE....:):)

You can sleep well and comfortable. They like dark and damp and stay under things - not sheets or beds. They might be in a dark corner - maybe, but most likely not.

There is one species of snake - and if you see it, feel very priviledged. He's a cute little bugger about 4-6 inches long, very pretty, non-poisonous and his mouth can't open far enough to even pinch your skin. Looks like a very beautiful worm. Other than that, no other snakes.

Hmmmm, did they ever find that escaped boa? :)

Barry

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - 8:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Robby took all his snakes, skinks (except for the one that bit Capt. Don's toe) and reptiles with him when he left...now, back to those feisty lizards...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John P. Wahlig on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - 12:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barry:

This 4-6" snake, what color is it? Would a young one be 2" long and only as thick as a #2 pencile lead, and about the same color? I saw this tiny creature crossing a sidewalk at the Divi, it moved like a tiny snake, had no legs that I could see, and appeared to have a head, two eyes, and a mouth. This thing was black, so it was hard to see any detail. Do you have pictures of the snakes of Bonaire? Please post them.

John

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Gassert on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - 8:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

John,

I don't believe what you saw was a young snake. I've only seen two and they were about 3-4 inches long, silver-white in color with very intricate small, lined patterns on it's triangular head, running down its body. (if my memory serves me right)

They were found under leaves and dirt in my garden. I can't recall ever seeing a published picture of one and I don't have any pictures with me. My reference books are in Jakarta and at present, I'm in Hong Kong. When I return to Indonesia in July, I'll go through my references and see what I can find, but I'm not very optimistic. Sorry.

Maybe Jake can ask Donna if she has a picture, then he can post it. JAKE? Want to try? Or maybe Jerry Ligon has a picture. Anybody out there have a pic?

Now as to what you saw. I've seen a 'worm' similar to what you descibed, but not in the open like that. It's surprising that it was out in the open, unless it had just rained or it was early evening. Did you touch it? Was it 'hard' and round, unlike an earthworm that we see commonly in North America - the good old fishing worm?

Barry

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John P. Wahlig on Wednesday, June 20, 2001 - 9:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yes I did pick it up. It moved like a snake on the sidewalk, early evening, in a "slithering" pattern. When I held it, it was hard and round. Like I said earlier, it seemed like it had a mouth line from a jaw, but being black and small, details were hard to make out. You think this was a worm?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Thursday, June 21, 2001 - 9:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

John,

Sounds like a legless lizard to me (we had them in Florida when I lived there briefly - they were called glass snakes). Barry - I will ask Donna or Jerry for a photo of the snake.

All - in terms of scorpions, we've had about a dozen and a half in and around our house since we moved in about 3 years ago, but none in the last 18 months. They don't like people around. They also sink in water - we pick them up with pliers and drop them in the toilet. Less messy than Barry's method. Bug spray doesn't work on them, by the way.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Gassert on Friday, June 22, 2001 - 9:04 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

John,

I'd just be guessing worm. I'm not familiar with Jake's 'glass snake'. I do know, with the exception of any pet escapees, there is only one species of snake on Bonaire. And if Donna or Jerry have a pic, you'll just fall in love with this little guy. I'll still check my references in July when I get back to Jakarta.

Jake,

Which method, the suicide or the crunch method? - and in either case you have the ants to take them away, so no pliers necessary. :):)

All - and talking about ants and things that bite - one must be more aware of those little buggers that bite more than scorpions or snakes.

Trivia Question: What is the largest bio-mass on Bonaire?

Barry

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steven Springer on Friday, June 22, 2001 - 10:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Trivia Question: What is the largest bio-mass on Bonaire?

My guess would be algae.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Gassert on Friday, June 22, 2001 - 11:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Good guess, Steven, but that's not really 'on' Bonaire, it's in the waters and I still don't know if it would bounce out number one, two or three....so,

What are the top three bio-masses 'on' Bonaire? In order, please.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John P. Wahlig on Friday, June 22, 2001 - 12:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

1. Termites
2. Ants
3. Flies

But NOT micro-snakes.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Gassert on Friday, June 22, 2001 - 8:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Way to go, John!!!

Termites/ants (same family) are the number one bio-mass on the island.

Now, for number 2 and 3....hint - mammal; number 2 might be in question.

Jake - how come there's no Trivia thread? It's a great way to learn the other neat things about Bonaire.....like, Who named the island and what is the meaning? What is the annual average rainfall? Where did they really slaughter the goats up North? What is our sand made out of? At what rate per year is it made? What do the Indian inscriptions mean? Are there any Indians left? How many power points are on the island and what is a power point? Are we an extinct volcano. Are those moon rocks or volcanic rocks on the east coast? Is that lava (the sharp rocks) along the east coast? And on and on and on.

A lot of cool things for the readers to learn. Yeah? Think about it? Maybe? It could be fun.:):)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 7:35 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Go ahead and start a Trivia sub-topic in Everything Else, Barry.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 9:26 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Donkey dung? Sorry about that, folks, could not resist. There are tons of road apples out there between the goat and the donkey "deposits"! Wouldn't have it any other way, however!!! Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steven Springer on Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 12:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Now wait a minute. Isn't algae also found in the salt ponds and Goto Meer (that are located ON Bonaire)? Isn't this what the flamingos eat to give them their red color?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steven Springer on Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 9:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ok, I am probably wrong about algae giving flamingos their color. "The pinkness of their feathers actually comes from the carotene found in their diet of brine shrimp, brine fly pupae, small clams, and other micro-delectables."

But what gives the salt ponds their red color?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kerri Freeman on Sunday, June 24, 2001 - 2:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Steven...Maybe the reflections of all those Pink Flamingos?:).....Sorry. Just wanted to encourage talk ofFlamingos, instead of øøøøøøøø< Yecchhhh..scorpions....forgive me....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Sunday, June 24, 2001 - 2:30 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bon Dia, Kerri! I, too, miss the peacefulness and the grace and beauty of the Flamingos of Bonaire....last fall we were driving from Lac Bay area past the Slave Huts and towards the Salt Flats when we were lucky enough to witness a flock of flamingos flying high up in the sky headed towards their nesting grounds, I presume.....of course, no camera in hand! What a beautiful sight it was. I guess I did not need my camera with me as we still remember that sight to this day. They are just amazing. Caroleflamingos enclore

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kerri Freeman on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 12:49 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bon Nochi, Carole, I must have just missed you. Thanks for the Flamingos, and all your other pix. With yours and Ellen's I'm really seeing Bonaire come alive..as Holly said. I spent hours today trying to figure out routes. But Webster isn't so good at reading schedules and fares..so I guess I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way.Te un otre dia....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Gassert on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 5:23 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The pink water comes from the lack of bacteria/algae, etc. in the high saline pans. It takes about 12 months to produce about 9 inches of salt in the pan. The water will turn pink over that time and it is then drained at the outlet at Tori's reef, often mistaken as the inlet.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kerri Freeman on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 - 7:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barry Sorry Teach, you got a sl--o-o-w one here. The water turns pink why? A chemical leachate from the salt? Is it because of alkalinity as opposed to acidity? or? Thanks. Kerri

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chet Wood on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 7:57 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I thought it was from the massive quantity of pink brine shrimp; for both the color of the water and the flamingos.
Chet

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Gassert on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 8:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Chet,

Not the water - the brine shrimp can't survive in that high of salinity. The pink water is only in the pans, not the ponds.

The flamingo's get their color from what they eat as stated earlier.

Small tidbit: The older the flamingo, the pinker it will be.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Sunday, July 1, 2001 - 11:11 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The inlet at Tori's does act like an inlet, at least at times. I speak from experience, having nearly been sucked into the intake during an incautious moment some months ago :) (And no, this is not something any of you should be concerned about - just don't swim within 5-10 feet of the sluice gates at the Tori's Reef inlet/outlet when they are open).

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Gassert on Monday, July 2, 2001 - 8:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jake,

I can't dispute you being sucked in, but I don't think it's for the pans or the ponds.

Tori's outlet/inlet(?) is at the pumping station. Pumping pure sea water in at that stage would contaminate the pan. The water pumped into the pans from the ponds is 4 months in the making and has an incredible salinity content.

Maybe they use it to do some cleaning out, maintenancewise.

Does Rene H. read this? Rene helped to create the present salt pan configurations engineeringwise about 30 some years ago.

Rene, are you reading this? Can you help us?

Michael, maybe you could ask Rene for us, yeah?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr on Friday, July 20, 2001 - 5:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I read this thread and had to upload a flamingo pic from last summer
flamingoD

 


Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites


Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration