Scorpions are a species in the Arachnida class of arthropods. Two species are native to Georgia, the southern devil and striped scorpions. General physical characteristics of scorpions are two large front pincers, 12 eyes and a rear tail with an attached stinger. Scorpions use the stinger to paralyze potential prey -- which consist of insects -- and its pincers are used as "feelers" to navigate. These arachnids are primarily nocturnal, meaning they only appear in the evening. During the day, scorpions spend their time underneath rocks and tree bark.
Georgia is home to a variety of spiders, a species in the Arachnida class of arthropods. Funnel web, jumping, wolf, ogre-face, lynx, crab, trapdoor and garden orb weaver spiders are some of the spiders species in the Peach State. All spider species have a venom in their venom sac, located within the spider's abdomen section. However, most spiders do not have enough venom to cause harm to humans; the venom is for paralyzing the spiders' prey. Two Georgia spiders, the brown recluse and the black widow, have enough venom to inflict serious damage to humans. Black widows have neurotoxins, and brown recluse venom is hemolytic, meaning it damages human skin.
Crustaceans are a large class within the Arthropod phylum. These arthropods are primarily marine and freshwater wildlife species. Most of Georgia's crustaceans live in or near the Atlantic Coast and the state's estuaries. Some crustaceans in Georgia are shrimp, crabs, crayfish and isopods; these animals are also known as shellfish. One of the largest isopod species in the world, Bathynomus giganticus, lives near Georgia in the southern Atlantic Coast. This crablike species lives at approximately 4,000 feet underwater and grows up to 11 inches.
Myriapods are a subphylum of arthropods with multiple legs. Some of Georgia's myriapods include millipedes and centipedes. One of the most common myriapods in Georgia are pillbugs, also known as roly polies. These arthropods are ecologically important since they break down decaying plants. A long, tubular heart extends throughout much of a myriapod's elongated body. Centipedes are carnivorous, preying on smaller insects and arachnids; these myriapods are known to bite humans in self defense.