Arizona bark scorpion

The Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus, once included in Centruroides exilicauda) is a small light brown scorpion common to the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. An adult male can reach 8 cm in length (3.14 inches), while a female is slightly smaller, with a maximum length of 7 cm (2.75 inches).[1]

The striped bark scorpion and the closely related Baja California bark scorpion are also called bark scorpions.

Arizona bark scorpion
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Scorpiones
Family:	Buthidae
Genus:	Centruroides
Species:	C. sculpturatus
Binomial name
Centruroides sculpturatus (Wood, 1863)

Predators

Arizona bark scorpions are eaten by a wide variety of animals such as birds (especially owls), reptiles, and other vertebrates. Some examples include spiders, snakes, peccaries, rodents, and other scorpions. Development, pesticides and collecting scorpions for research or the pet trade also reduces the bark scorpion population.

The painful and potentially deadly venom of Arizona bark scorpions has little effect on grasshopper mice. Scientists have found the scorpion toxin acts as an analgesic rather than a pain stimulant in grasshopper mice.[2]

Life cycle

Three adult and four juvenile Arizona bark scorpions

A female Arizona bark scorpion with young

Arizona bark scorpions have a gestation period of several months, are born live, and are gently guided onto their mother's back. The female usually gives birth to anywhere from 25 to 35 young. These remain with their mother until their first molt, which can be up to 3 weeks after birth. Arizona bark scorpions have a life expectancy of about 6 years.[3]

While nearly all scorpions are solitary, the Arizona bark scorpion is a rare exception: during winter, packs of 20 to 30 scorpions can congregate.

Arizona bark scorpions, like most other scorpions, are incredibly resilient. During US nuclear testing, scorpions, along with cockroaches and lizards, were found near ground zero with no recorded adverse effects.[4]

Habitat

The Arizona bark scorpion is nocturnal,[3] and particularly well adapted to the desert: layers of wax on its exoskeleton make it resistant to water loss. Nevertheless, Arizona bark scorpions hide during the heat of the day, typically under rocks, wood piles, or tree bark. Arizona bark scorpions do not burrow, and are commonly found in homes, requiring only 1/16 of an inch for entry.[5]

Arizona bark scorpions prefer riparian areas with mesquite, cottonwood, and sycamore groves, all of which have sufficient moisture and humidity to support insects and other prey species. The popularity of irrigated lawns, and other systems which increase environmental humidity in residential areas, has led to a massive increase in the number of these animals in some areas.

Centruroides scorpions are unusual in that they are the only genus in the Southwest that can climb walls, trees, and other objects with a sufficiently rough surface. Arizona bark scorpions practice negative geotaxis, preferring an upside down orientation, which often results in people being stung due to the scorpion being on the underside of an object.[6]

The Arizona bark scorpion preys on small and medium-sized animals such as beetles, spiders, crickets, cockroaches, other insects and other scorpions.[3][7]

The range of the Arizona bark scorpion is from southern California, southern Arizona and western New Mexico. They are also found in Baja California, Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico.[7]

Venom

Frontal view of an Arizona bark scorpion in a defensive posture

The Arizona bark scorpion is the most venomous scorpion in North America, and its venom can cause severe pain (coupled with numbness, tingling, and vomiting) in adult humans, typically lasting between 24 and 72 hours.[3] Temporary dysfunction in the area stung is common; e.g. a hand or possibly arm can be immobilized or experience convulsions. It also may cause loss of breath for a short time. Due to the extreme pain induced, many victims describe sensations of electrical jolts after envenomation.

Fatalities from Arizona bark scorpion envenomation in the US are rare and are limited to small animals (including small pets), small children, the elderly, and adults with compromised immune systems. Extreme reaction to the venom is indicated by numbness, frothing at the mouth, paralysis, and a neuromotor syndrome that may be confused with a seizure and that may make breathing difficult, particularly for small children. Two recorded fatalities have occurred in the state of Arizona since 1968; the number of victims stung each year in Arizona is estimated to be in the thousands. In Mexico, more than 100,000 people are stung annually, and during a peak period in the 1980s, the Arizona bark scorpion claimed up to 800 lives there.[8]

Antivenom

Arizona bark scorpion glowing under ultraviolet light

An antivenom was developed for this species at Arizona State University by Dr. Herbert L. Stahnke, and produced in quantities sufficient to treat individuals within the state of Arizona. This antivenom was not FDA approved, but use within the state of Arizona was allowable and very successful in shortening the duration of symptoms and hospitalization. Production of this antivenom ceased by 2000 and the product was unavailable by 2004. A Mexican-produced antivenom, Anascorp [Antivenin Centruroides (scorpion) F(ab′)_², Laboratorios Silanes, Instituto Bioclon SA de CV], received FDA approval on August 3, 2011, and is now in use.[9]

First aid

Basic first aid measures can be used to help remediate Arizona bark scorpion stings:[10]

• Clean sting site with soap and water
• Apply a cool compress (cool cloth)
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for local pain and swelling

Medical emergencies

Since the amount of venom an Arizona bark scorpion injects varies, Arizona poison control centers suggest immediate medical attention only in the event of extreme pain or stings involving weaker individuals.[4]

UV lighting

Arizona bark scorpions, like most other scorpions, will glow when exposed to a blacklight. This is particularly useful in scorpion detection, since Arizona bark scorpions are active during the night, and can be easily spotted using this method. Typical UV LED flashlights enable their human operator to readily detect Arizona bark scorpions at a distance of approximately six feet. Newly molted Arizona bark scorpions will not glow under ultraviolet light for a few days after molting.

Control and prevention

Arizona bark scorpions are tan or light beige tone in color and very small, making them difficult to detect especially on natural terrain (rocky land, multiple vegetation and soil textured land). They are not known to seek out people, but look for places to hide unless provoked or defending their young. Several methods of control have historically been used to control Arizona bark scorpions, such as physical barriers (scorpions are unable to climb smooth surfaces)[11],[12], pesticides[13], glue boards, and removing any scorpion congregation areas in the vicinity of the building.

References

1. "Species Centruroides sculpturatus - Arizona bark scorpion". Retrieved June 18, 2008.
2. "Grasshopper Mice Are Numb to the Pain of the Bark Scorpion Sting". Archived from the original on 2013-10-26. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
3. "Arizona Bark Scorpion - Scorpion Facts and Information". Retrieved 2019-12-02.
4. "Poison and Drug Information Center". The University of Arizona. 2008. Archived from the original on July 2, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
5. "Scorpion Management Guidelines". 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2008.
6. Phillips S.; Comus P. (2000). A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-520-21980-9.
7. "Bark Scorpion Fact Sheet". www.desertmuseum.org. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
8. "Scorpions". Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. The University of Arizona. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
9. "August 4, 2011 Approval Letter - Anascorp". 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
10. David Von Behren, MPH (2000). "Soothing the Scorpion's Sting". The University of Arizona. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
11. "ASU entomology testing physical barrier". www.pestborders.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
12. "Pest Control Videos". www.bulwarkpestcontrol.com. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
13. DesertUSA.com. "Scorpion Prevention and Scorpion Extermination (DesertUSA)". www.desertusa.com.

External links

• Media related to Centruroides sculpturatus at Wikimedia Commons
• Further information on the scorpion