Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

Order:
Scientific Name: Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

Centruroides vittatus - Striped Bark Scorpion Buthidae Members:			NC Records	BugGuide Account	Public View

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Distribution Records
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Vetting Levels

Adult phenology:
High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
Piedmont (Pd)
Coastal Plain (CP)

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synonym

taxonomic_comments

One of 47 species in this completely New World genus (Fet and Graeme, 2000; Valdez-Cruz et al., 2004). Four species occur in North America north of Mexico - three in the East -- and two have been recorded in North Carolina.

species_comment

id_comments

This is the largest scorpion that has been recorded in North Carolina. The dorsal surface is dark brown with conspicuous pale stripes on the abdomen (Shelley, 1994). These stripes distinguish this species from Vaejovis carolinianus and the presence of a dark triangle at the anterior margin of the cephalothorax (apex pointing rearward) separates it from the smaller Centruroides hentzi. Additionally, the chelicerae are unpigmented in this species but reticulated with brown markings in hentzi (see key and illustrations in Shelley, 1994).

total_length

4.0-6.0 cm (Shelley, 1994)

structural_features

This species and C. hentzi both possess a subaculear tubercle located on the telson (terminal segment) below the stinger. This tubercle is missing in Vaejovis carolinianus (Shelley, 1994).

silk_web

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

prey

predators

behavior

distribution_reference

Shelley (1994)

technical_reference

Shelley (1994)

adult_id

1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only

abundance

All observations made in North Carolina have been of single individuals (Shelley, 1994)

distribution_comments

Records come only from the eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain but probably represent individuals accidentally imported on mesquite firewood and could show up anywhere in the state.

checklist_mt_high
>=4,000 ft.

Regular	Frequent	Infrequent	Occasional	Seldom	Frequency Regular – almost always observed on given visit; >=90% chance of observation Frequent – usually observed on a given visit; >=50%<90% chance of observation Infrequent – observed less than 50% of visits; >=25%<50% chance of observation Occasional – observed on only on a small minority of visits; >=10%<25% chance of observation Seldom – not usually seen on visits; <10% chance of observation These terms refer to visits to appropriate habitats made at appropriate times of the year, making use of common sampling/observation methods. Under those conditions, Frequency refers to the chance of observing at least one individual on a given visit made anywhere within a particular region, or over multiple visits to a single site.

checklist_mt_low
<4,000 ft.

Regular	Frequent	Infrequent	Occasional	Seldom

checklist_pd
Piedmont

Regular	Frequent	Infrequent	Occasional	Seldom

checklist_cp
Coastal Plain

Regular	Frequent	Infrequent	Occasional	Seldom

habitat

Observations of this species are all from buildings or developed areas, particularly near restaurants that make use of mesquite logs for grilling (Shelley, 1994).

observation_methods

All North Carolina observations represent random encounters with accidentally introduced individuals. As a poisonous species, it should be collected carefully. Although capable of producing a painful sting, it is apparently not dangerous to humans, at least those that do not have allergic reactions to the venom (Shelley, 1994).

state_protection

Arachnids are not protected by state laws in North Carolina and as an introduced species, it is not of any conservation concern.

NHP_ranks

GNR [SNA]

NHP_status

status_comments

This species is a widespread, resident species west of the Mississippi River but populations in the East all probably represent accidental introductions. In some areas, however, these introductions have developed into disjunct populations and there is at least some chance that the same could happen in North Carolina (Shelley, 1994). In its established range, this species occurs as far north as Illinois, suggesting that it could easily survive in at least some areas of North Carolina.