Bark scorpion

Bark Scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) is a small light brown scorpion commonly found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It 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. Fatalities from scorpion envenomation in the USA are rare and are limited to small animals, small children, the elderly, and adults with compromised immune systems.

Description

The bark scorpion is small in size, with males reaching up to 8 cm (3.1 in) and females up to 7 cm (2.8 in). It is light brown in color and can be distinguished from other scorpions by its long, slender hands and tail. The bark scorpion is the only species of scorpion in Arizona that can climb walls, trees, and other objects with a rough surface.

Habitat

The bark scorpion is found in the Sonoran Desert in the U.S. states of Arizona, California, and parts of New Mexico. It is also found in the Baja California peninsula and the western half of the Mexican state of Sonora. The bark scorpion prefers riparian areas with mesquite, cottonwood, and sycamore groves, all of which have sufficient moisture and humidity to support insects and other prey species.

Behavior

Bark scorpions are nocturnal and prefer to ambush their prey, rather than hunting. They eat insects, spiders, centipedes, and other scorpions. The bark scorpion is a relatively solitary animal except during mating season, when they congregate in large groups.

Venom

The venom of the bark scorpion can cause severe pain in humans and can be fatal to small children, the elderly, and persons with compromised immune systems. The venom contains a mixture of compounds, each not only causing a different effect but possibly also targeting a different body system. While a bark scorpion's sting is not usually life-threatening, it is medically significant, and treatment should be sought immediately if a sting occurs.

See also

• Scorpion
• Venomous animals
• Sonoran Desert