Scorpion with Babies
Location: Huachuca Mts., southern Arizona
October 11, 2011 2:22 pm
I took a photograph in southern Arizona a few years ago of a scorpion with babies on its back. Can you identify the species from this shot? Thanks.
Signature: Glenn McCrea
Dear Glenn,
In our opinion, this is an Arizona Bark Scorpion, Centruroides sculpturatus. According to BugGuide, “‘sculpturatus’ describes the sculptured appearance of the tergites (dorsal plates)” and that is a distinguishing feature, however, in your photograph, the tergites are hidden by the substantial brood of young.
Based on the prevalent small hairs, thickness of the penultimate tail segment, and somewhat stubby looking pincers, I believe this is a stripe-tail scorpion, Paravaejovis spinigerus, but I’m not an expert, just a park worker near PHX.