Texas scorpions are generalist, nocturnal predators that rely on opportunity rather than specialized hunting. The most common species is the striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus, which is widely distributed and adaptable. These arachnids have a low metabolic rate, allowing them to be highly efficient with their energy use. This efficiency means they are opportunistic hunters, consuming whatever small prey crosses their path during nighttime forays.
The Primary Prey
The diet of the striped bark scorpion consists almost entirely of insects and other small arthropods, typically smaller than the scorpion itself. Primary food sources include crickets, small spiders, cockroaches, centipedes, and moths. Caterpillars are also a main prey item for scorpions of all sizes throughout the year, suggesting they are a highly available food source in certain habitats. The specific arthropods consumed depend on the scorpion’s size and the season, demonstrating a flexible feeding strategy. Larger scorpions incorporate a higher proportion of orthopterans, such as grasshoppers, into their diet during certain months. Their diet reflects the local abundance of various invertebrate populations, and by consuming these common pests, the scorpion helps regulate local insect populations.
Hunting Strategies and Prey Capture
Scorpions rely on sophisticated sensory organs rather than keen eyesight to locate prey. They use specialized sensory hairs called trichobothria, which are highly sensitive to air and substrate vibrations. These hairs allow the scorpion to detect the precise direction and distance of a moving insect, making this seismic sense the primary tool for identifying meals in the dark.
Once prey is located, the scorpion uses its large, claw-like pincers (pedipalps) to grasp and immobilize the victim. For smaller prey, the powerful pincers are often sufficient to crush and hold the meal. If the prey is larger or more active, the scorpion swiftly arches its tail (metasoma) to inject neurotoxic venom from the stinger (telson) to paralyze or kill it. After securing the prey, the scorpion employs external digestion by regurgitating digestive fluids onto the meal, which liquefies the tissues for consumption.
Diet Variation and Cannibalism
The diet of the striped bark scorpion shifts based on its size, resource availability, and environmental conditions. Smaller scorpions often avoid microhabitats where larger scorpions reside to reduce the risk of being consumed. This risk of cannibalism influences the foraging behavior of smaller individuals.
Cannibalism occurs within the species, especially between adult males and juveniles, and becomes a more prominent survival tactic when food is scarce. Scorpions are adapted to withstand long periods without a meal due to their extremely low metabolic rate, which is among the lowest of all invertebrates. This allows them to survive for up to a year on very little food, enduring droughts or low prey availability by minimizing activity. While their diet is mostly small invertebrates, larger scorpions occasionally consume small vertebrates like baby lizards or mice.