Stats

Lifespan

4-8 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Nocturnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Desert scrubland

Range

North America

Movement

Walking

Breeding

Live birth

Defense

Venom

Status

Uncommon

About

The most common scorpion in the central United States, marked with two dark stripes running down its pale tan back. It glows blue-green under UV light thanks to fluorescent compounds in its exoskeleton.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   juvenile

   Born live, a pale scorpling rides on its mother's back until its first molt, then sets off on its own.
2. 2.
   subadult

   A near-adult scorpion molts through several instars, hardening and darkening toward mature coloration.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown after its final molt.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Scorpiones

Family

Buthidae

Genus

Centruroides

Species

Centruroides vittatus