Striped Scorpion

Class: Arachnida (scorpions, whipscorpions, spiders, mites, etc.)
Order: Scorpiones (scorpions)
Family: Buthidae
Species: Centruroides vittatus
Common Name: Striped Scorpion / Striped Bark Scorpion
Date: 2001 August 23
Place: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
    Pine Springs Visitor Center on the wall at night

Dr. Henson (1999) notes that this species is "highly variable in coloration across its range but in this area it is straw colored with two dark stripes on its back and a dark triangle on the head". In a "Field Guide to the Spiders and Scorpions of Texas", J. Jackman (c 1999) indicates that the sting causes local pain and swelling. A word of caution here - different people respond differently to venom injected into their systems and one should always watch out for allergic / severe reactions that require immediate medical attention. With any bite or sting secondary infection is always possible.

References
Henson, R. 1999
    Scorpions of Guadalupe Mountains National Park
    a short document on scorpions in the Research files at the Park

Links

Note: This is a personal web site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Contact information for the author, Ron Lyons, is accessible through the Index Page referenced below. Thank you.