Baby scorpions don't glow

[AzJohn]

Has anyone else noticed that freshly molted babies don't glow. I'm assuming that the photophlouresence(sp) happens as the skin hardens.

 

[Kaos]

Yes, thats a known fact, they don't glow until they harden up.

 

[H. laoticus]

Yes, the exuvia will continue to glow, though.

 

[Galapoheros]

You may have read between the lines but just in case, it's that way for every molt until they harden.

 

[Widowman10]

the title threw me off as baby scorpions do indeed glow...

but correct about the freshly molted thing.

 

[llamastick]

Yes, the exuvia will continue to glow, though.

Hmm, makes me wonder if they could be powdered to make homemade UV ink, lol.

 

[H. laoticus]

Hmm, makes me wonder if they could be powdered to make homemade UV ink, lol.

Well heck, despite being over a month old, the exuviae I've collected continue to fluoresce.

 

[AzJohn]

Well heck, despite being over a month old, the exuviae I've collected continue to fluoresce.

Molts continue to glow forever it seems like. I'm curious as to what is going on as far a the chemistry in the skin that causes it to glow after it hardens. I'm assuming some sort of reaction with the air???

JOhn

 

[Sooner]

Molts continue to glow forever it seems like. I'm curious as to what is going on as far a the chemistry in the skin that causes it to glow after it hardens. I'm assuming some sort of reaction with the air???

JOhn

This is one of the fluorescent compounds in scorpion cuticle. Ringed organic carbon structures tend to fluoresce at certain wavelength emissions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-carboline

 

[Michiel]

Molts continue to glow forever it seems like. I'm curious as to what is going on as far a the chemistry in the skin that causes it to glow after it hardens. I'm assuming some sort of reaction with the air???

JOhn

so do preserved scorpions in alcohol....It has to with riboflavins in layers under the epidermis.....This is the simple answer, btw, not the elaborate one......