Species Centruroides vittatus - Striped Bark Scorpion

Up to 7 cm in length

"A very important clue is the "triangle" on the front of the carapace; long, slender appendages, which are noticeably more elongate in males than in females; two broad stripes down back, with orange bars on each tergite (dorsal plate); hands and fifth metasoma (tail) segment are darker, especially in young and freshly molted specimens; broad stripe on the back of the tail." - Kari J McWest

Populations of this scorpion encompass a large geographic range that includes southern Colorado, eastern New Mexico, several of the states in northern Mexico, Texas, western Louisiana, western Arkansas, southern Missouri, Oklahoma, and much of Kansas. (Shelley & Sissom 1985) Tsunemi Yamashita

Rocky glade areas in Arkansas are the habitat of C. vittatus. Tsunemi Yamashita

Arkansas scorpions were not active on the surface during December, January, February, and March but Texas scorpions were active all year. Tsunemi Yamashita

Venom is a mild neurotoxin, sting is quite painful. Some people might have a severe allergic reaction requiring medical attention

This is the most common scorpion in the USA. (1)

Shelley, R.M. and W.D. Sissom. 1985. Distributions of the scorpions Centruroides vittatus (Say) and Centruroides hentzi (Banks) in the United States and Mexico (Scorpiones, Buthidae). JOA 23:100-110.

1 http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/c_vittatus.php

http://www.uark.edu/depts/entomolo/museum/scorpion.html

Striped Bark Scorpion photo