Arizona Arthropods
Arthropods are a phylum of invertebrate animals that contain an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and paired appendages. Some of the most popular arthropods include scorpions, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, crustaceans, and insects. Ethan Estabrook, BCE had the unique opportunity to see a wide variety of arthropods on his recent trip to the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.
The giant hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) is the largest scorpion in North America reaching sizes of 6 inches (15 cm). These scorpions feed mainly on other scorpions and invertebrates but have been known to feed on larger prey such as lizards, snakes, and mammals. The venom of the giant hairy scorpion is not very potent and is comparable to a bee sting.
Desert centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha) go by multiple common names such as the common desert centipede, tiger centipede, banded desert centipede, and Sonoran Desert centipede. They are large centipedes reaching sizes of 7 inches (18 cm) in length.The desert centipede uses appendages called gnathostomes or gnathopods to pinch rather than bite, injecting venom into prey. Once eggs are laid, a mother desert centipede will guard her eggs by coiling around them for protection.
The Black witch (Ascalapha odorata) is a large bat-shaped, darkcolored nocturnal moth. They are the largest noctuoid (night owl moth superfamily) in the United States reaching wingspans of 9 inches (24cm). The black witch is considered bad luck and is associated with death or misfortune in many Central American cultures. In the novel The Silence of the Lambs, serial killer ‘Buffalo Bill’ placed black witch moth pupae in the mouths of his victims. In the movie adaptation, they were replaced by the death’s-head hawkmoth (Acherontia) pupae.
The Tucson Bronze Tarantula (Aphonopelma vorhiesi) is a large tarantula species reaching a leg span size of 6 inches or more (15cm). Tarantulas, like all spiders, use venom to help take down prey and primarily feed on insects and other arthropods. Males live 10 to 12 years while females can live twice as long. Male Tucson brown tarantulas are dark brown to black while females are light brown.
The giant whip scorpion (Mastigoproctus giganteus), also called the giant vinegarroon or grampus, is the only native whip scorpion in the United States. They have a long, thin, whip like tail and can spray 85% acetic acid from the base of their tail to help defend themselves from predators. The giant whip scorpion feeds on various insects, worms, and slugs.
Tadpole shrimp (Triops longicaudatus) is a crustacean that lives in freshwater ponds and pools. It is the most widespread notostracan species (Tadpole shrimp order) and can be found in western North America, South America, Japan, South Korea, and several Pacific Islands. They are one of only two tadpole shrimp species that can have three reproductive strategies including bisexual, unisexual (parthenogenetic), and hermaphroditic.
Offspring stay inside eggs during the dry season and hatch as rainwater fills up seasonal ponds and pools. Tadpole shrimp live for about 20-90 days if water does not dry up where they feed on fairy shrimp and other invertebrates
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