Bark scorpion (Centriodes sp.) in the field under a blacklight (UV light)
A bark scorpion (Centroides sp., green in the photograph) is pictured in an oval of ultraviolet light (purple in the photograph), demonstrating a unique method for studying scorpions in their native habitat. The exoskeleton of scorpions (and some other arachnids, including crab spiders) fluoresces under ultraviolet light, a phenomenon that researchers take advantage of to locate scorpions at night in the wild. Recently, this feature has been used in taxonomy in addition to in detecting scorpions in the field.
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| Primary or BEN resource type | |
|---|---|
| Format | |
| Temporal and geographic description | This photograph was taken in mid-September 2007 in the Chihuahuan Desert approximately 20 miles south of Carlsbad, NM. The location was in Eddy County on the south bank of the Black River. |
| Core Concepts | |
| Drought & Water-Ecosystem Services Collection | Off |
| Conservation Targets Under Global Change Collection | Off |
| Big Data Collection | Off |
| Editor's Choice | No |
| Audience | |
| Pedagogical Use Description | Uses for this image could include: discussion of arachnology, desert ecosystems, field sampling methods, unique morphological or physiological features, and scorpions. |
| Keywords | scorpion; blacklight; visual survey; ultraviolet; arachnid; fluorescence; UV; cuticle |
| Key taxa | Centroides; scorpion; Arachnida; Scorpiones |
| Life science discipline (subject) | |
| Primary Author Controlled Name | |
| Primary Author Affiliation | Miami University, Department of Zoology |
| Primary Author email | levinetd@muohio.edu |
| Rights | Copyright 2008 by Todd Levine. |
| Date Of Record Submission | 2008-04-30 |
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