A study of the defensive behavior of Tityus pusillus in relation to sex and threat level

 

Scorpions have a range of tactics to avoid being caught and eaten by predators. Some are passive like camouflage, while others are active like using the stinger and inject venom. Strategies chosen vary both between species and within species, and even between the sexes. 

Kamila Bento Cavalcanti de Albuquerque and Andre Felipe de Araujo Lira have recently published a study on the defensive behavior chosen by male and female Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Buthidae) in relation to threat level. One of their main findings was that  the scorpions, independently of sex, stung more often under high threat compared to low threat treatments. But there was no difference in female and male defensive behavior in respons to the threat intensity.

It is well known that scorpion use their venom with care as venom production is costly and this study is another confirmation of this.

Abstract:
Scorpion venom is composed mainly of peptides and proteins and has high metabolic cost. Thus, individuals need to be economic in its use. This study aimed to evaluate the reactions of Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 scorpion to threats of different intensities. For the experiments, 28 males and 26 females were used; animals were gently touched five times on their mesosoma at different time intervals. Touches with five second intervals were considered as the highintensity threats, while those with five-minute intervals were considered as the low-intensity threats. We found that scorpions, independently of sex, stung more often under high threat compared to low threat treatments. However, no significant differences in the defensive behavior of males and females were observed according to threat intensity. We can thus infer that regardless of sex, T. pusillus uses its stings and consequently venom only in situations of high threat.

Reference:
de Albuquerque KBC, de Araujo Lira AF. Sex-based defensive behavior influenced by threat level in the scorpion Tityus pusillus (Scorpiones: Buthidae). J Arachnol. 2021;49(3):402-6. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Andre Lira for sending me their article!