The question of what scorpion eggs look like is common, but the answer often surprises people who expect an egg sac like those of spiders. Scorpions are arachnids, but their method of reproduction sets them apart from most relatives. They do not deposit eggs into the environment. Instead, scorpions exhibit a reproductive strategy closer to that of many mammals.
The Biological Reality of Scorpion Reproduction
Scorpions are not egg-layers. They give birth to live young, a strategy known as viviparity or ovoviviparity. The embryos develop internally within the mother’s body, a process that can take a long time. The gestation period is remarkably long for an invertebrate, often lasting from a few months to over a year, sometimes up to 18 months.
Their internal development system varies, but both types result in live birth. Some species are ovoviviparous, developing in yolk-rich eggs that hatch internally before birth. Others exhibit true viviparity, where embryos receive nutrients directly from the mother through a specialized connection. This protected development means the young are born fully formed, miniature versions of the adult.
What Newborn Scorpions Look Like
Since scorpions do not lay eggs, people often look for a description of the newborns, called scorplings. Immediately after birth, scorplings are extremely small, typically measuring between 0.5 to 1 inch in total length. Their small size makes them comparable to a grain of rice.
Their appearance is distinct from adults because their exoskeleton is soft and unhardened. This soft structure gives them a pale, translucent, or whitish color right after birth. Despite their delicate state, they possess the same basic anatomical features as adults, including eight legs, pincers, and a stinger. As they grow, their exoskeleton hardens and they acquire the darker pigmentation characteristic of their species.
The Maternal Care Stage
A single litter can range from 3 to over 100 scorplings, which immediately climb onto their mother’s back after birth. This congregation of tiny bodies is often mistaken for a mass of eggs or a nest. The mother often assists by positioning her front legs and pincers to form a “birth basket” for the newborns to climb out of.
The purpose of this collective ride is protection from predators and the environment. Newborns are vulnerable due to their soft exoskeletons. The mother provides this protection until the scorplings undergo their first molt, which usually takes between one to three weeks. Once the first molt is complete, their exoskeleton hardens, and they disperse to begin their solitary lives.