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Fluorescent:
Molt: to shed the outer layer of the body.
Ultraviolet: (1) light waves at wavelengths less than those visible to humans. Also called UV light. (2) invisible light rays just below the violet end of the spectrum... more
Finding Scorpions at Night
All scorpions will fluoresce under a ultraviolet (UV) light, also known as a "blacklight". The glow is caused by an unidentified substance in a thin layer in their skin. Newly molted scorpions do not fluoresce right away, but they they will glow after they have aged a while.
Arizona Bark Scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) under a ultraviolet (UV) light.
Credit: Photo by Barb Backes.
View Citation
Bibliographic details:
- Article: Ultraviolet Scorpions
- Author(s): Christopher Putnam
- Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
- Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
- Date published: December 23, 2009
- Date accessed: April 17, 2024
- Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpion
APA Style
Christopher Putnam. (2009, December 23). Ultraviolet Scorpions. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved April 17, 2024 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpion
Chicago Manual of Style
Christopher Putnam. "Ultraviolet Scorpions". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 23 December, 2009. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpion
Christopher Putnam. "Ultraviolet Scorpions". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 23 Dec 2009. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 17 Apr 2024. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpion
MLA 2017 Style
The Emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator) is a species of scorpion found in Africa. This one is glowing under ultraviolet light.
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