One of the most commonly encountered scorpion species in the US, Striped Bark Scorpions, or Centruroides vittatus, are native to the South-Central United States and northern Mexico. Striped bark scorpions are nocturnal creatures that wander and hunt at night, and during the day, they hide under crags, stones, tree barks, and cracks. Although this scorpion’s stings are venomous, they are not considered lethal to humans as the deaths allegedly attributed to this species are not well substantiated.
However, their stings can cause severe pain and swelling. They can also lead to numbness, muscle twitching, and even convulsion or difficulty breathing, especially in children, elderly citizens, and those with allergies. One unique feature about the striped bark scorpion is that they fluoresce or glow when put under UV light. This can make detecting them relatively easy.Â
The most distinctive thing about striped bark scorpion is that they glow a bright bluish or green color when UV light is shone over their backs. These creatures are nocturnal hunters that are always active at night. They also have some other unique features that can help you distinguish them from other scorpions.
Color: Striped bark scorpions are pale yellow-brown with two dark stripes that run along the length of the body.
Size: Both male and female striped bark scorpions rarely grow longer than 2-3/8 inches in length. Male scorpions will have a longer and more slender tail then the female.
Bodily Features: Striped bark scorpions come with two body segments, the cephalothorax and the abdomen. The tail, which is part of the abdomen, has five segments, each subsequent segment being longer than the last one, with a stinger at the tip. They have 8 legs and a pair of pedipalps with claws at the end for grasping the prey and sensing their surroundings.
Habitat: Striped bark scorpions prefer to stay outdoors and can live in a variety of landscapes. They spend the day hiding under rocks, woodpiles, in cracks, or any other spot they can find that is dark and not often disturbed.
Diet: These scorpions feed on insects and some spiders. They ambush, catch and poison crickets, roaches, beetles, ants, and small insects. They are usually attracted to your home by the other insects invading the property.
Striped bark scorpions are dangerous to homeowners because of their venomous stings. These little creatures can be nasty to dogs, cats, children, the elderly, and any individuals with compromised immune systems.
Striped bark scorpion stings can cause various symptoms, including breathing problems, convulsions, numbness, muscle twitching, pain and swelling. If you are stung by one of these arachnids, you should wash the sting site with soap and water, remove any jewelry in case of swelling, and use ice packs and over the counter pain medication to manage your symptoms until they subside, usually within a few hours. If the pain persists longer than that, gets worse, or swells considerably you may be experiencing an allergic reaction and should seek medical attention immediately. If you can take a clear picture of the scorpion that stung you, this can help a medical professional ensure that you receive the proper treatment.
If you want to make sure that your home is not a striped bark scorpion attraction, here are some things you should do:
If striped bark scorpions are already inside your property, trying to exterminate them on your own is usually very difficult. These pests are extremely hardy and durable, so the best thing you can do is to hire the qualified pest prevention and control professionals at Domain Pest Control. These technicians have the equipment and expertise to inspect, diagnose and exterminate scorpions from your property.Â
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