| Vaejovis carolinianus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Vaejovidae |
| Genus: | Vaejovis |
| Species: | V. carolinianus |
| Binomial name | |
| Vaejovis carolinianus (Beauvois, 1805) | |
Vaejovis carolinianus, the southern unstriped scorpion, also known as the southern devil scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the family Vaejovidae.
Description
Vaejovis carolinianus is a small, dark scorpion from the southeastern United States. Common within good habitat, this species can be locally abundant. Generally less than 2 inches in length with both claws and tail extended. The legs and claws may be dark reddish or brownish in color, with the carapace and abdomen presenting a dull nearly black coloration.
Habitat and Distribution
Found primarily within the southern Appalachians, with most observations occurring within the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Scattered observations occur in Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Within its range this species prefers mesic mixed woodland, being readily found under logs, stones, or the bark of standing dead trees. It readily enters homes and other human structures and can fit through very fine crevices or gaps. As with all scorpions it may easily be found using blacklights due to the fluorescence of the exoskeleton.
Ecology
A predator of smaller arthropods, this scorpion will feed on a wide range of prey species. In captivity it will accept termites, mealworms, and crickets, including prey nearly as large or larger than itself. It favors soft bodied species when available. May be cannibalistic on smaller specimens of its own species, and early instar young will cannibalize if confined.
Reproduction
As with all scorpions this species has live birth. It may produce up to 26 young.
References
- "Vaejovis carolinianus species details". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- "Vaejovis carolinianus". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- "Vaejovis carolinianus Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- "Vaejovis carolinianus Overview". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
Further reading
- Ayrey, R.; Webber, M. (2013). "A new Vaejovis C.L. Koch, 1836, the second known vorhiesi group species from the Santa Catalina Mountains of Arizona (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae)". ZooKeys (270): 21–35. doi:10.3897/zookeys.270.4500. PMC 3668420. PMID 23730187.
- Capinera, John L., ed. (2008). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer. ISBN 978-1402062421.
- Comstock, John Henry (1912). The spider book: A manual for the study of the spiders and their near relatives, the scorpions, pseudoscorpions, whip-scorpions, harvestmen, and other members of the class arachnida, found in America North of Mexico, with analytical keys for their clas... ISBN 978-1295195817.
- Fet, Victor; Sissom, W. David; Lowe, Graeme; Braunwalder, Matt E. (2000). Catalog of the Scorpions of the World (1758-1998). The New York Entomological Society. ISBN 0-913-42424-2.
- Jackman, John A. (2002). A Field Guide to Spiders and Scorpions of Texas. Gulf Publishing. ISBN 978-0877192640.
External links
Media related to Vaejovis carolinianus at Wikimedia Commons
| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Vaejovis carolinianus | |
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