Central American bark scorpion
Centruroides margaritatus
Venom note
Sources disagree. Toronto Zoo calls the venom relatively mild compared with other Centruroides and not dangerously toxic to healthy humans. The Scorpion Files (Rein and McWest, based on Ward et al. 2018) list C. margaritatus among species documented to cause moderate to severe symptoms in humans, with the caveat that Centruroides venoms vary a lot by species. Rated moderate and flagged medically significant to be cautious. No species-specific clinical figures were found.
About
Centruroides margaritatus, the Central American bark scorpion, is a slender, nocturnal climber from Central America and northwestern South America, found under bark, in leaf litter and in woodpiles. Good husbandry information specific to this species is scarce, so this is partly borrowed from other bark scorpions. Keepers of the genus describe tall enclosures with cork bark or rough vertical surfaces to climb, a shallow water dish a scorpion can climb out of, light weekly misting, and small insect prey such as crickets and roaches. Do not copy a single temperature or humidity number from another Centruroides, because keepers note these vary by species. Treat the sting seriously. Toronto Zoo calls the venom relatively mild for the genus, but the Scorpion Files lists the species among those reported to cause moderate to severe symptoms. Use long tools, never handle it, and keep the enclosure escape-proof, because it climbs well.
Taxonomy
Size & growth
Climate
Enclosure
Feeding
Times kept: 0