Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Centruroides hentzi - Hentz Striped 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 a relatively small species of scorpion. The dorsal surface is generally a dark, yellowish brown, with paler stripes on the abdomen. The cephalothorax is more lightly marked than in either C. vittatus or Vaejovis carolinianus and lacks the dark triangle at the anterior of the cephalothorax that is characteristic of C. vittatus (Shelley, 1994); the chelicerae of this species is also reticulated with brown, unlike those of vittatus.

total_length

3.2-4.4 cm (Shelley, 1994)

structural_features

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

silk_web

fld_guide_descriptions

Evans (2008)

online_photos

BugGuide

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 that were accidentally imported 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

observation_methods

All North Carolina observations represent random encounters with accidentally introduced individuals. As in other scorpions, they are highly flourescent and can be easily detected at night using blacklights. 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 in Florida and parts of adjoining Georgia and Alabama but observations further north all probably represent accidental introductions, perhaps from propagated palm trees from Florida (Shelley, 1994). With warming temperatures, there is a good chance that it could become established north of its current range, although as long as cold winters persist, populations out in the wild are unlikely to survive.