What has 12 eyes and still can’t see? B.C.’s Northern Scorpion

PENTICTON – There is a creature roaming the night landscape of southern British Columbia that many residents might be surprised to know exists.

The Northern Scorpion, which is found in the Okanagan, is Canada’s only species of scorpion.

The Northern Scorpion is native to parts of southern B.C., including the Okanagan, southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan.

BIObus, a mobile field research team out of the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the University of Guelph researched the Northern Scorpion, calling it a relatively common species that is rarely seen because of its nocturnal nature.

The scorpion can be tracked with a UV light at night because it has fluorescent compounds in its exoskeleton, causing it to glow in the dark.

The Northern Scorpion is considered venomous, using a stinger to defend itself. The scorpion locates its enemies with sensory hairs on its abdomen.

Interestingly they have trouble focusing their eyes but have some of the most light-sensitive eyes of any creature in the world, and can actually navigate by the stars at night.

The Canadian Encyclopedia says the Northern Scorpion can have up to 12 eyes, but can only distinguish dark from light.

They’re mostly found under logs, bark or rocks, preying on insects, spiders and each other.

It equates the scorpion’s sting to that of a bee sting. The Northern Scorpion can grow to five cm long and live up to two years.

Have you had an encounter with a Northern Scorpion? If so, we’d like to hear about it!

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