Why Daddy? All About Scorpions

by Kevin Delp | More from this Blogger

20 Jul 2007 04:24 AM

My family took a trip to the zoo this week, and my son was really excited that we got the chance to see a scorpion. The scorpion was in a glass tank, filled with sand, rocks, logs and other things from its natural environment. Immediately underneath the scorpion's tank was a glowing red square, which you were obviously meant to push. My six year old son looked into the scorpion's tank as he pushed the button, wondering what was going to happen.

When he pushed the button, the light in the scorpion's tank went out and was replaced by a black light. (The kind that makes a white t-shirt glow purple in the dark) I looked over my son's shoulder, and sure enough, the scorpion was glowing an eerie, greenish-yellow color. It looked kind of creepy, but I had to agree with my son's assessment. It was really cool.

After we got out of the exhibit he asked, "Why does the scorpion glow in that light, daddy?" I had absolutely no clue why.

After we got home, we went on the internet to find some answers.

Scorpions have a thin, transparent layer of protein on their exoskeleton called hyaline. This protein will fluoresce (to the human eye) under a black light. Most scorpions are nocturnal, and scientists think that scorpions find other scorpions at night this way. Scorpions are not social animals. They only want to find another scorpion to mate with, or to eat. Apparently the larger female scorpion will often eat the smaller male scorpion. Suffice it to say, that the male may want to spot their glowing counterpart to keep their distance instead of getting a little closer.

My son thought this was the coolest thing he had heard or, not counting Transformers.

Whenever possible try to answer your kids' questions with real answers. It is so tempting to skip it or give a quick cursory answer. But digging deeper with your child will help instill a love of learning!

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