Still, scientists don’t know what purpose the fluorescence serves. Some theories:
• It protects scorpions from sunlight.
• It helps them find each other.
• It might confuse their prey.
An article on the news website LiveScience reported another theory, by California State University arachnologist Carl Kloock. Because scorpions avoid sunlight in general and UV light in particular, he thinks the glow actually helps them figure out whether to come to the surface or stay underground, based on how much UV light shines on them. For example, these nocturnal creatures are less active on moonlit nights and during the full moon.
For humans, one benefit of the scorpion’s glow is that it makes these stingers easier to see in the dark. Which is perfect, whether you’re trying to study them … or avoid them!