Centruroides hentzi

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Centruroides hentzi
Centruroides hentzi 122644221.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Buthidae
Genus: Centruroides
Species:
C. hentzi
Binomial name
Centruroides hentzi
(Banks, 1900)

Centruroides hentzi, the Hentz striped scorpion, is a species of bark scorpion in the family Buthidae. They are native to the southeastern United States including the states of Florida, southwestern Alabama, and in the coastal plain of Southern Georgia including surrounding barrier islands. [1] C. hentzi is present in other states such as North Carolina and South Carolina due to accidental human importations. [2]

Contents

In Florida, C. hentzi is sympatric with two other species of Centruroides: the Florida bark scorpion (C. gracilis) and the Guiana striped scorpion (C. guianensis). [2]

Description

The color of the carapace is a uniformly light mottled brown with lines that spread out anteriorly and laterally from a yellow median stripe. [2] The chelicerae and legs are marbled with brown reticulation while the underside of the legs are unmarked and pale. [3]

This species of scorpion also exhibits sexual dimorphism. Males have smaller and more slender bodies with long metasomal segments while females tend to be larger with short, rounded metasomal segments. [1] Males tend to measure around 37 mm with 18 pectinal teeth while females measure around 38.9 mm with 17 pectinal teeth. [3]

Habitat

Centruroides hentzi are often found living under logs, stones, tree snags, and litter on the ground. They can also be found under bark on standing dead trees up to 20 feet off of the ground [3] or under the bark at the base of live Pinus elliottii and Pinus palustris. [1] This scorpion is a common invader of households and other constructed environments. [3]

Diet

Centruroides hentzi feeds on insects such as cockroaches, termites, and crickets. [3]

Predators

Predators of the scorpion include the federally endangered Picoides borealis and the non-native Osteopilus septentrionalis. [1] The first observed documentation of predation on a species of scorpion by an assassin bug was reported with Centruroides hentzi and Microtomus purcis . [4]

Venom

Centruroides hentzi has evolved to use their venom primarily for defense or predation. [5] Between C. hentzi populations, there has been a recorded significant variation in their venom with a larger significance among populations geographically separated. Significant differences in venom composition of females and males between all populations has also been recorded, suggesting venom genes may be sex-specific in C. hentzi. [5] Venom regeneration in C. hentzi takes at least 14 days. [6]

Stings to humans are painful and may cause discomfort but do not have long lasting effects or severe medical consequences. [3]

Related Research Articles

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Centruroides exilicauda, the Baja California bark scorpion, is a species of bark scorpion found in Baja California. It is closely related to the Arizona bark scorpion, but is not considered dangerous. Previously only distinguished by geographic range, the two variants were classified in 1980 as the same species. Subsequently, differences in venom toxicity were recorded, and in 2004, DNA analysis showed them to be separate species. The Baja California bark scorpion is a slender, long-tailed scorpion, and although it is typically sand-colored it appears in darker colors.

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<i>Centruroides</i> Genus of scorpions

Centruroides is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. Several North American species are known by the common vernacular name bark scorpion. Numerous species are extensively found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the Antilles and northern South America. Some are known for their interesting patterning or large size ; most if not all fluoresce strongly under ultraviolet illumination, except after moulting. They contain several highly venomous species, and fatalities are known to occur. The venom of the Mexican scorpion Centruroides limpidus limpidus contains the neurotoxins Cll1 and Cll2.

<i>Tityus</i> (genus) Genus of scorpions

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Tityus stigmurus is a species of scorpion from the family Buthidae that can be found in Brazil. The species are 4.5–6 centimetres (1.8–2.4 in) in length and are either golden-tan or yellowish-brown coloured. It takes them a year to mature into an adult, which makes them a fast-growing species. They also have a dark stripe over the mesosoma with either yellowish or orange pedipalps.

<i>Centruroides gracilis</i> Species of scorpion

Centruroides gracilis is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae, the bark scorpions. Its common names include Florida bark scorpion, brown bark scorpion, and slender brown scorpion. In Cuba it is known as alacran prieto and alacran azul. Contrary to one of its common names, it is not actually native to Florida in the United States. It is native to northern parts of the middle Americas, including Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. It is present in other parts as an introduced species, including Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, and Florida in the United States. It is also introduced in parts of Africa, including Cameroon and Gabon, as well as the Canary Islands.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Stevenson, Dirk J.; Greer, Greg; Elliott, Matt J. (December 2012). "The Distribution and Habitat ofCentruroides hentzi(Banks) (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in Georgia". Southeastern Naturalist. 11 (4): 589–598. doi:10.1656/058.011.0404. ISSN   1528-7092.
  2. 1 2 3 Shelley, Rowland M.; Sissom, W. David (1995). "Distributions of the Scorpions Centruroides vittatus (Say) and Centruroides hentzi (Banks) in the United States and Mexico (Scorpiones, Buthidae)". The Journal of Arachnology. 23 (2): 100–110. ISSN   0161-8202.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Muma, Martin H. (1967). Scorpions, whip scorpions, and wind scorpions of Florida. Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas. Florida. Gainesville: Florida Division of Plant Industry. OCLC   20508.
  4. Stevenson, Dirk J.; Stohlgren, Kevin M. (January 2015). "Predation on the ScorpionCentruroides hentzi(Banks) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) by the Assassin BugMicrotomus purcis(Drury) (Insecta: Hemiptera: Reduviidae)". Southeastern Naturalist. 14 (1): N1–N4. doi:10.1656/058.014.0101. ISSN   1528-7092.
  5. 1 2 Ward, Micaiah J.; Ellsworth, Schyler A.; Hogan, Michael P.; Nystrom, Gunnar S.; Martinez, Paul; Budhdeo, Amisha; Zelaya, Roxana; Perez, Alexander; Powell, Barclay; He, Huan; Rokyta, Darin R. (September 2018). "Female-biased population divergence in the venom of the Hentz striped scorpion (Centruroides hentzi)". Toxicon. 152: 137–149. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.07.026 . ISSN   0041-0101.
  6. Nystrom, Gunnar S.; Fry, Lucy G.; Ellsworth, Schyler A.; Rokyta, Darin R. (April 2022). "Contrasting patterns of venom regeneration in a centipede (Scolopendra viridis) and a scorpion (Centruroides hentzi)". Toxicon. 210: 132–140. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.02.022 . ISSN   0041-0101.