Last night was long and today we didn't leave until around noon.
So, goodbye Madaba.
Peace Square
The route for today...
We first drive to a spot near Dibeen and then around there.
Road to Dibeen Forest
We stopped here for a small snack. It was raining a little - Shawarma to go.
Later in Dibeen with sundown...
A very beautiful valley. Then let’s see what there is to find here.
It got dark quickly and early. It was darker in the Dibeen forest in particular. At 16:38 we found the first Scorpion. There is only one minute between these two pictures.
An experienced scientist identified this species as Scorpio cf. kruglovi.
The forest was damp, dense and in places already very dark. It didn't take long and we were standing in complete darkness. One hour later we walked up a steep hill with our flashlights. It was slippery but fairly free to walk.
We found only...
Scolopendra sp.
It was difficult to get a good picture under the conditions and with the fast centipedes.
We didn't find much so we looked further down and went downhill along a path. Dogs were barking in the distance but that's always the case.
We fought our way through the thick wet bushes and found...
Hottentotta judaicus
This habitat is unbelievable. Pure wet forest.
We continued into the bushes and were stopped by a chain link fence. We shined a UV light and saw a stone wall on the other side that was full of Hottenotta judaicus. There seemed to be a house above it because a dog was barking but was not visible.
Of course it was risky but I just had to find a good place to get over the fence. Cornelius showed me the spot and I climbed over it.
I must have been on some kind of plantation because there were a few terraces with trees. I shone a light on the wall but unfortunately the Hottentotta judaicus were gone very quickly. I waited for them to come out but they didn't come. So I went to look above the wall and found a lot of Scorpio sp.
The ground was very wet and muddy, so muddy that my boots got stuck and it was hard to walk.
After a good half hour I wanted to shine my light on the wall again, jumped down from the terrace and landed without shoes...my shoes were stuck in the clay ground. So I was literally knocked out of my shoes. I looked like a pig and my socks were now completely muddy and wet. It was really hard work getting back onto the terrace in socks.
Well, I shone a light on the wall again with Hottentotta judaicus, but unfortunately they didn't come out and we had to drive on to Ajlouan and at least we found some and saw a slightly different habitat.
I had flip flops on by now and after an hour of searching in Ajlouan, one of them unfortunately ripped and I had to carry on barefoot. The ground was cold and rocky. That was really not my day but what wouldn't you do for your passion.
We also searched along a wall for Hottentotta judaicus, but this time it was a dry habitat and open field next to a residential area. Here too, they couldn't be gotten out of the wall.
Back in the car my feet were ice cold, but the heating did its job...we have spent a lot of time here and now we are going to Zarqa.
We stopped in the middle of nowhere and had a long walk ahead of us, because according to Maps there are only mountains and desert here.
I put my boots back on and we set off. The night was slightly cool and sometimes a warm breeze blew. Starry and beautiful. Quiet. In some places we found rocky areas and found...
Orthochirus negebensis
20 min. later...
Compsobuthus sp.
Here you can see Compsobuthus sp. with Latrodectus sp.
A moment of peace.
I stood still for 10 minutes and just looked up while Cornelius looked somewhere.
It was a lovely atmosphere. Quiet, stars and a light breeze.
And finally...
Scorpio sp.
The density of Compsobuthus sp. was quite high. That of Orthochirus negebensis was moderate but still good.
Now to the accommodation in Amman, it is now midnight.
Jordan Tower Hotel
A really great day with lots of scorpions and finally no Leiurus hebraeus. The time in the desert was relaxing and necessary. Tomorrow we go to the Dead Sea.