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.
Read more about: Not So Scary Scorpions
Bibliographic details:
- Article: Ultraviolet Scorpions
- Author(s): Dr. Biology
- Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
- Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
- Date published: 23 Dec, 2009
- Date accessed:
- Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpion
APA Style
Dr. Biology. (Wed, 12/23/2009 - 15:51). Ultraviolet Scorpions. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpion
Chicago Manual of Style
Dr. Biology. "Ultraviolet Scorpions". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 23 Dec 2009. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpion
MLA 2017 Style
Dr. Biology. "Ultraviolet Scorpions". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 23 Dec 2009. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpion
The Emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator) is a species of scorpion found in Africa. This one is glowing under ultraviolet light.
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