Detects a special fluorescent compound from the scorpion's armor

After much research, scientists recently identified a special fluorescent compound in the scorpion's armor that could help protect them from parasites rather than having other special effects.

Most scorpions glow blue when illuminated by natural ultraviolet or moonlight. Scientists are not sure how this fluoresce benefits organisms, but some have speculated that it acts as a cream that helps scorpions find mates in the dark.

This compound can protect scorpions from parasites.

Until recently, scientists have identified a new fluorescent compound from the scorpion's outer armor. The team says this compound can protect scorpions from parasites.

More than 60 years ago, scientists realized for the first time that a special ability with the scorpion's outer armor was glowing under UV light. To date, only two fluorescent compounds β-carboline and 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin have been identified in the creature's outer armor.

Researcher Masahiro Miyashita and colleagues wondered if there could be other fluorescent molecules with different chemical properties that had been overlooked in previous studies.

To find out, the researchers extracted compounds from scorpion's molten armor. They refined the compound that showed the strongest fluorescence and determined its structure, which was a phthalate ester previously shown to have antifungal and antiparasitic properties in other organisms.

The findings suggest that the new molecule the researchers found in some species of scorpions may help protect against parasitic infections in these organisms.

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