The striped scorpions body is covered with a waxy cuticle that helps prevent dessication. The scorpion cuticle flouresces under ultraviolet light, which helps when collecting or observing them at night. (Drees & Jackman 1998)
These scorpions have become associated with homes in Texas and the surrounding areas. Human presence has given them new places to find shelter. (Drees & Jackman 1998)
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
Scorpions will strike if touched or grabbed by humans. The poison glands in the swollen tip of the tail secrete a venom that is a neurotoxic and is deadly to insects and causes extreme discomfort in humans. The sting sensation is a sharp pain that lasts, on average, about 15 to 20 minutes. Reactions vary depending on how much venom the scorpion has at the time. The sting is very rarely fatal, and even then, death is due to anaphylactic shock, not the direct toxic effects of the venom. (Townsend 1996, Parker 1982, Miller 1988)
Scorpions help control the local insect population.
The striped scorpion is primarily insectivorous, consuming mostly spiders, centipedes, crickets, flies, beetles, and other small insects. The scorpion stalks its prey mostly at night and depends on its senses of touch and smell. Comblike chemical receptor organs on their undersides contact the ground as they walk, which helps them track prey. Theses scorpions catch their food by grabbing and crushing them with their powerful pinchers. They then bring their tail over their body and sting the victims. The prey jerk compulsively and are paralyzed by the venom. They die in the scorpions' rigid grasp. The scorpions then chew the prey into a semi-liquid state, that they can suck up with their tiny mouths. (Miller 1988, Townsend 1996)
Centruroides vittatus is probably the most frequently encountered scorpion in the United States. The striped scorpions' range radiates outward from Texas, where it is most heavily concentrated, into Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. It is also found in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Chihahua, and Durango. (Stockwell 1996, Drees & Jackman 1998)
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Centruroides vittatus can be found indoors or outdoors in an array of habitats. These scorpions are considered "bark scorpions" and are typically nocturnal in their habitats. They hide in damp, cool areas under rocks, boards, fallen logs, dead vegetation, and inside human dwellings. (Drees & Jackman 1998, Ellis 1975)
The striped scorpion seldom attains lengths greater than 3 inches, averaging 2 3/8 inches. The tail of the scorpion is longer in males than in females. Body color varies from yellowish to tan for adults. Younger scorpions may be overall lighter in color, and the last segment of the body and the bases of the pedipalps are dark brown to black. Two distinguishing characteristics are two broad blackish stripes on the upper surface of the abdomen, and a dark triangular mark on the front portion of the head region in the area over the median and lateral eyes. This species has slender pedipalps and a long slender tail. (Ellis 1975, Drees & Jackman 1998)
Mating occurs in the fall, spring, and early summer. Embryos are nourished in the female's body via a placental connection. Gestation is estimated to take about eight months. Broods may contain upwards of 50 young, but average around 30. The young climb on the mothers back after birth and soon molt. After the first molt they disperse and lead independent lives. Scorpions molt an average of six times before maturity. Adult scorpions can produce several broods. (Milne & Milne 1980, Stockwell 1996, Drees & Jackman 1998)
Der Arizona-Rindenskorpion (Centruroides vittatus), auch Kleiner Texasskorpion genannt, gehört zu der Familie der Buthidae. Er ist ein kleiner bis mittelgroßer Skorpion mit einer Größe von ca. 7 cm bei adulten Tieren. Die Färbung reicht von dunklen bis hin zu sehr blassen Formen. Die trockenheitsliebenden xerischen Formen sind eher gelblich, wohingegen die mesischen (weder trockenheits- noch feuchtigkeitsliebend) Formen eine eher dunklere Grundfarbe besitzen und die Streifen leicht ins Orange gehen. Vom Äußeren ähnelt der C. vittatus stark dem C. exilicauda, lässt sich jedoch durch eine dreieckige, meist dunkle „Maske“ zwischen dem medianen Augenpaar auf dem Carapax unterscheiden, welche bei C. exilicauda fehlt.
Der Lebensraum des C. vittatus erstreckt sich von ganz Texas über Teile der angrenzenden Staaten bis nach Nordmexiko. Vor Ortschaften macht der Skorpion kaum halt, aufgrund dessen man ihn auch öfter in und um Wohnhäusern sichten kann. Der Skorpion hält sich vorwiegend in Fels- oder Rindenspalten auf, in denen er meist kopfüber hängend den Tag verbringt und auch seine Nahrung verspeist.
Der Centruroides vittatus gehört zu den mindergiftigen Skorpionen, obwohl er zur Gattung der sonst giftigen und medizinisch bedeutsamen Centruroides gehört. Die Symptomatik eines Stiches ähnelt unter normalen körperlichen Bedingungen (gesund, Nichtallergiker usw.) der eines Bienenstiches.
Die insektenfressende Grashüpfermaus Onychomys torridus (ein Nagetier), zu deren Beutetieren auch Skorpione gehören, verfügt über ein Glycoprotein, das durch einen Bestandteil des Toxins aktiviert wird. Die schmerzerzeugende Wirkung wird dadurch blockiert, was eine bedingte Resistenz gegenüber dem Toxin verleiht.[1][2]
Der C. vittatus ist nachtaktiv, selten aber auch tagsüber anzutreffen. Im adulten Stadium verhält er sich anderen adulten Skorpionen der eigenen Art gegenüber recht neutral, jüngere Skorpione hingegen können als Nahrung betrachtet werden. Ansonsten weist er eine eher geringe Kannibalismusrate auf.
Zum Beutespektrum gehören sämtliche im Lebensraum vorhandenen Tiere in passender Größe, die überwältigt werden können.
Der Arizona-Rindenskorpion (Centruroides vittatus), auch Kleiner Texasskorpion genannt, gehört zu der Familie der Buthidae. Er ist ein kleiner bis mittelgroßer Skorpion mit einer Größe von ca. 7 cm bei adulten Tieren. Die Färbung reicht von dunklen bis hin zu sehr blassen Formen. Die trockenheitsliebenden xerischen Formen sind eher gelblich, wohingegen die mesischen (weder trockenheits- noch feuchtigkeitsliebend) Formen eine eher dunklere Grundfarbe besitzen und die Streifen leicht ins Orange gehen. Vom Äußeren ähnelt der C. vittatus stark dem C. exilicauda, lässt sich jedoch durch eine dreieckige, meist dunkle „Maske“ zwischen dem medianen Augenpaar auf dem Carapax unterscheiden, welche bei C. exilicauda fehlt.
The striped bark scorpion (Centruroides vittatus) is an extremely common scorpion found throughout the midsection of the United States and northern Mexico. It is perhaps the most frequently encountered scorpion in the U.S.
A medium-sized scorpion that is rarely longer than 70 mm (up to around 2 3/4 in), the striped bark scorpion is a uniform pale-yellow scorpion that can be identified by two dark, longitudinal stripes on its carapace, with a dark triangle above the ocular tubercle. Minor variations on this theme occur, however; specimens that are lighter-colored and lack the characteristic stripes have been described as separate species in the past. Their color suits their environment well, providing them with a natural camouflage from predators as well as prey. Males have a pectinal tooth count of 21–30, while females count 20–27.[1]
The natural geographic distribution of C. vittatus is formed by several adjoining South-Central US states and northern Mexico. Beginning in the northern Mexico Border States, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas, C. vittatus’s range extends upward longitudinally through Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, to reach as far north as Thayer County, Nebraska. The area also extends laterally from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Rio Grande in New Mexico and south Colorado to the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers in Missouri and Louisiana. In all, the range includes the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.[1][2]
Reports have also found C. vittatus in locations inconsistent with the aforementioned natural geographic distribution. Populations seem to be found only in particular cities outside its natural distribution, so it is thought likely that human activity has introduced C. vittatus to these areas. They include locations in Iowa (Harrison County), Kentucky (Marshall and Calloway Counties), Louisiana (East Baton Rouge Parish and Orleans Parish), Mississippi (Lamar, Pike, and Rankin Counties), Missouri (Clark County), North Carolina (Dare, Nash, and Wake Counties), and Tennessee (Rutherford and Shelby Counties). Additional sightings have occurred in Arizona (Maricopa County), California (Contra Costa County), and Colorado (Boulder County).[1]
A wide geographic distribution allows C. vittatus to occupy desert, deciduous and coniferous forest, and temperate grassland [biomes], where they can be found in crevices under rock and surface debris, vegetation, old rural structures like sheds and barns, and houses during the day. At night, this species emerges from its daytime home and can be found on the open ground or in vegetation, like microphyllous desertic brushwood or other classifications.[3]
While placement in the genus Centruroides implies this species is a semi-arboreal one,[3] the striped bark scorpion spends a substantial amount of its time on the ground; and can be found under rock and surface debris, within vegetation, and in weathered rural structures such as old sheds and barns during the day.[3] The terrestrial preferences of this species carry into the night hours, when the scorpion emerges from its temporal shelter at or after sunset to forage for potential prey. Juveniles, however, spend a substantial amount of time in vegetation, likely to avoid predation to which they are more vulnerable. C. vittatus has a very dynamic diet which includes insects, smaller arachnids, and juveniles of the same species. It is preyed on by birds, reptiles, some mammals, and larger arachnids.
Unlike most species of scorpion, C. vittatus is social, presenting it with more opportunities to mate and compete for mates.[4] Consequently, the process of reproduction is both intricate and extensive.[4] Males begin by engaging behavior to establish dominance to mate. They engage in a showdown that highlights tail-waving and shifting until one male backs down. Once one male has established he is the one to mate, he engages the female in the first “step” of courtship, called the promenade a deux (PAD). During this step, the smaller male maneuvers the female to a spot where he can deposit the spermatophore, a small capsule containing the male’s sperm, for reception. This step determines whether the female will assume the male’s spermatophore, as the male must hold the female long enough to coax her over the spermatophore. Larger males tend to have more success at maneuvering the female than smaller ones. If the male has successfully maneuvered her, the male and female move onto join together and rub chelicera in the “kiss” stage, where the female takes up the spermatophore. The female then allows about 8 months for gestation, whereupon she has live offspring which spend the time for at least one molt on the protection of her back.[5]
Thousands of people are stung yearly by C. vittatus while barefoot or accidentally making contact with the scorpion in houses and other man-made structures. While a sting from C. vittatus is very rarely deadly, it is painful and causes localized swelling.[6] Neurotoxins in the venom can also cause paresthesia and muscle spasms, while more severe cases have resulted in a more intense hypersensitive reaction, characterized by symptoms such as angioedema, abdominal cramping, chest tightness, flushing, lightheadedness, a large localized reaction, nausea and vomiting, syncope, shortness of breath, urticaria, wheezing, and in the most severe cases, anaphylactic shock. C. vittatus venom contains the toxin CvlV4, which has been shown to target and decrease the inactivation of NA+ channels located in the Dorsal root ganglia of Nociceptors (sensory neurons that detect pain), resulting in an prolonged activation of action potentials.[7] C. vittatus venom is composed of multiple proteins that serve as allergens to the human body. SDS-PAGE and IgE immunoblots reveal that nine of these proteins elicit an IgE-mediated immune response, which is known to be consistent with a hypersensitive reaction. In addition, Api-Zym and radial diffusion assays show that C. vittatus venom contains the enzymes alkaline phosphatase, esterase, esterase lipase, acid phosphatase, and phospholipase A.[8]
While a C. vittatus sting is not typically deadly, and signs such as swelling can be treated using an ice pack, several other species from the genus Centruroides can have a deadly sting and medical attention should be sought immediately.[9][10]
The striped bark scorpion (Centruroides vittatus) is an extremely common scorpion found throughout the midsection of the United States and northern Mexico. It is perhaps the most frequently encountered scorpion in the U.S.
El escorpión rayado de la corteza (Centruroides vittatus) es una arácnido de la familia Buthidae, orden Scorpiones. Fue descrita por Say en 1821. El nombre del género Centruroides proviene de las palabras griegas centr- que significa “puntiagudo” y uro que significa “cola” el género originalmente se llamaba Centrurus pero tuvo que cambiarse a Centruroides debido a que Centrurus ya había sido usado para otro animal. La terminación -oides significa “semejanza” o “proveniente de”. El nombre específico vittatus proviene de la palabra en latín vittātus que significa bandeado.[1]
El carapacho tiene un triángulo invertido de color negro que cubre el tubérculo ocular, la superficie dorsal de los quelíceros generalmente es de un color amarillento uniforme, de vez en cuando con rastros reticulados, dedos de la quela, mano y pedipalpo uniformemente amarillos, raya amarilla de la mitad del dorso tan o más ancha que las rayas negras (cuando las rayas están presentes), dimorfismo sexual por conteo de dientes pectinales que en los machos suele ser de 21-30 dientes y en hembras de 20-27 dientes. Segmentos metasomales con una sola raya medioventral oscura que se extiende entre las carinas submediales, patas por lo general de un color amarillo puro, rara vez con una tonalidad marrón, telson suboval cuando se observa ventralmente, telson con dientes medioventrales muy débiles, carina longitudinal que conduce hasta el tubérculo subaculear, diente subaculear pequeño y espinoide[2][3]
Se distribuye en Estados Unidos, en los estados de: Nuevo México, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Luisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Carolina del Norte. En México en los estados de Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila y Sonora.[2]
Es de ambiente terrestre. Ocupa una gran variedad de microhábitats en desiertos, bosques caducifolios, de pino y pastizales, habita en las grietas de afloramientos rocosos, paredes de cañón, colinas volcánicas, entre la vegetación buscando refugio debajo de las yucas; en algunas ciudades se les ha encontrado en los vertederos de basura, dentro de las casas, oficinas, residencias, hoteles. Y algunos microhábitats adicionales son: bajo ramas de palma, rocas, corteza y troncos en bosque de pino; estiércol de vaca y trapos viejos escombros.[2]
Hasta el momento en México no se encuentra en ninguna categoría de protección, ni en la Lista Roja de la IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) ni en CITES (Convención sobre el Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas de Fauna y Flora Silvestres).
El escorpión rayado de la corteza (Centruroides vittatus) es una arácnido de la familia Buthidae, orden Scorpiones. Fue descrita por Say en 1821. El nombre del género Centruroides proviene de las palabras griegas centr- que significa “puntiagudo” y uro que significa “cola” el género originalmente se llamaba Centrurus pero tuvo que cambiarse a Centruroides debido a que Centrurus ya había sido usado para otro animal. La terminación -oides significa “semejanza” o “proveniente de”. El nombre específico vittatus proviene de la palabra en latín vittātus que significa bandeado.
Centruroides vittatus est une espèce de scorpions de la famille des Buthidae.
Cette espèce se rencontre[1] :
Elle a été observée ponctuellement au Tennessee, en Caroline du Nord, au Kentucky et en Alabama[1].
Centruroides vittatus mesure entre 55 et 75 mm[2].
Pour se cacher de ses proies et prédateurs, le scorpion possède une pigmentation lui offrant un très bon camouflage[2].
La journée, il ne bouge pas et reste tapi dans la végétation touffue et autre recoins humides. La nuit, il chasse, dès le crépuscule. Pour détecter ses proies, il capte leurs odeurs et mouvements via un organe sensoriel situé entre les pattes arrière. Cet organe forme un peigne. Une fois détectée, la proie est saisie grâce aux pinces du scorpion et meurt[2].
Ce scorpion se nourrit d'insectes, d'araignées et de mille-pattes[2].
Après une gestation de 8 mois, la femelle pond entre 30 et 50 œufs, les petits après éclosion vont se réfugier sur le dos de leur mère. Ils vont y rester jusqu'à leur première mue[2].
De driestrepige schorsschorpioen (Centruroides vittatus) is een schorpioen uit de familie Buthidae. Het is de meest voorkomende schorpioen van de Verenigde Staten. Hij is te vinden in scheuren en spleten in rotsgebieden en bossen, maar in huizen is de schorpioen ook aan te treffen.
Een steek van deze schorpioen is pijnlijk, maar in de meeste gevallen niet dodelijk.
De driestrepige schorsschorpioen (Centruroides vittatus) is een schorpioen uit de familie Buthidae. Het is de meest voorkomende schorpioen van de Verenigde Staten. Hij is te vinden in scheuren en spleten in rotsgebieden en bossen, maar in huizen is de schorpioen ook aan te treffen.
Een steek van deze schorpioen is pijnlijk, maar in de meeste gevallen niet dodelijk.