Gaffin et al. (2012) found similar locomotor responses of
scorpions under UV and green wavelengths at the 0.15 mW/
cm2 intensity and differences in behavior under the two
wavelengths when the eyes were covered. The behavior of
eyes-blocked animals changed more when exposed to green
light than to those animals exposed to UV light, suggesting a
possible role for the fluorescent cuticle in UV detection. Gaffin
et al. (2012) suggested the cuticle could serve as a whole-body
light detector for purposes of finding shelter. That is, shading
of any part of the cuticle stimulated by UV would represent
overhead shelter (such as a twig or blade of grass), and a
reflexive turning toward the shaded side would move the
animal’s body under the shelter.