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For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#258302
Centruroides vittatus - female

Centruroides vittatus - Female
Kingsland, Llano County, Texas, USA
Size: 60 mm
This is the Llano Uplift (Central Texas pink granite) form of the striped scorpion. It has brighter coloration and rich blue pleural membranes (sides).

Notice the identifying characters of this species: the dark triangle on the carapace followed by patterns, then stripes down the body with orange bars on the tergites, darkened fifth metasomal segment (tail), and darkened hands, which become more pale with age. On the back of the tail are stripes that can't be seen here.

Gender
How can you tell between male and female?? Would you care to give me your opinion on my photos?

Scorpion #1

Scorpion #2

 
Male/female
Male scorpions (including Centruroides) can be recognized by having longer pectines. See here and here for examples. Other characters like the claws can be helpful with some species, but I'm not sure if this applies to Centruroides. See here and this thread for examples.

All of that said, male scorpions, like all arachnids tend to be smaller bodied. The specimens in your photos are quite hefty... so if I had to guess... I'd lean toward female.

 
Thanks
Oh I see! Thank you for that very helpful information

Trombidioid larvae!
Neat! There are parasitic trombidioid mite larvae on this scorpion. I just collected a C. vittatus with a trombidioid attached. Once I have an ID I'll post with more info. In the meantime, can this image also be put on the trombidioid page?

 
Correction
These mites are not trombidioid larvae, rather they are larvae of Leptus (Erythraeidae).