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An image of a 2nd instar moult scorpion "nymph" (pandinus imperator)
When first born an Ultraviolet LED bulb was focused on the mother and babies, only the mother showed to fluoresce.
Only after the babies had left their mother and moulted into 2nd instar were they found to fluoresce after the cuticle layer had hardened when viewed under this simple UV bulb.
(Excuse the quality, infra red focusing doesn't work too well in UV....this was taken in pitch black)
The pots are fluorescing a bit as they use UV dye in the manufacturing of the plastic.
The fluorescence is believed to be an ultraviolet sensitivity mechanism, maybe to allow the scorpion to avoid damaging light levels. The fluorescence is caused by an, as yet, unidentified chemical in a very thin layer in the cuticle of the scorpion which is called the hyaline layer. Freshly moulted adult scorpions do not fluoresce untill the cutical layer has hardened thus leading to the supposition that the chemical is only released into the hyaline soon after moulting or that the "tanning or hardening" process is responsible for producing this fluorescent chemical as a by product.
Whatever it is or does...it's fascinating !!!
When first born an Ultraviolet LED bulb was focused on the mother and babies, only the mother showed to fluoresce.
Only after the babies had left their mother and moulted into 2nd instar were they found to fluoresce after the cuticle layer had hardened when viewed under this simple UV bulb.
(Excuse the quality, infra red focusing doesn't work too well in UV....this was taken in pitch black)
The pots are fluorescing a bit as they use UV dye in the manufacturing of the plastic.
The fluorescence is believed to be an ultraviolet sensitivity mechanism, maybe to allow the scorpion to avoid damaging light levels. The fluorescence is caused by an, as yet, unidentified chemical in a very thin layer in the cuticle of the scorpion which is called the hyaline layer. Freshly moulted adult scorpions do not fluoresce untill the cutical layer has hardened thus leading to the supposition that the chemical is only released into the hyaline soon after moulting or that the "tanning or hardening" process is responsible for producing this fluorescent chemical as a by product.
Whatever it is or does...it's fascinating !!!
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