Hiding in water pools in Bromeliads

 

Vegetation is an important part of the scorpion's habitat in creating an optimal micro-climate and/or providing hiding places for predator avoidance. Maria Carolina de Oliveira Souza and co-workers have recently published an article on the use of Bromeliads by the buthid Tityus neglectus Mello-Leitao, 1932.

One of the discoveries in this study is that the scorpions used rainwater pools collected in the rosette-like leaf arrangements of this plant to hide for predators. This was done by diving into the pools and be completely submerge for several minutes. This has not been reported in scorpions previously.

Abstract:
The spatial arrangement of organisms is significantly influenced by the structure of vegetation. Bromeliads, characterized by a remarkable architectural design featuring rosette-like leaf arrangements for rainwater storage, act as habitats for various organisms. These organisms use bromeliads for shelter, foraging, reproduction and the supply of nutrients and moisture. This study investigated how specific aspects of bromeliad structure, such as the number, width and length of leaves, impact the behaviour and distribution patterns of the bromelicolous scorpion Tityus neglectus. In the examination of 110 sampled bromeliads, 33 scorpions were recorded, resulting in an occupancy rate of 30%. The likelihood of scorpion occurrence was associated with the plant's structure. The length and coefficient of variation in the width of leaves appeared as the main predictors, positively influencing scorpion presence while the number of leaves exhibited a negative relation with scorpion occurrence. The distribution of scorpions was uniform across the spatial design of bromeliads. Furthermore, T. neglectus demonstrated the ability to utilize water accumulated in the bromeliad to evade potential predators, submerging itself for, on mean, almost 8 min. We concluded that bromeliad structure is essential in shaping the distribution patterns and anti-predatory behaviour of T. neglectus.

Reference
de Oliveira Souza MC, Foerster SÍA, Salomão RP, Souza-Alves JP, de Moura GJB, Lira AFdA, et al. The role of bromeliad structural complexity on the presence, spatial distribution and predator avoidance in Tityus neglectus (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Ecology and evolution. 2024;14(6):e11522. [Open Access]

Another case of regeneration of body parts in scorpions

 

Morphological anomalies in scorpions are well known. Some are inborne teratologies, others are caused by a failed molting process or due to accidents from predators attacks and similar. Scorpions can survive the loss of or damages to some of the appendages, but loss of the last part of the tail will usually cause death after a certain time as the anal organs are gone and the scorpion will die of constipation. 

Lost or damaged appendages can be regenerated completely or partly in scorpions during future molts. Ersen Yagmur and co-workers have recently published a case of regeneration of a part of the pedipalp in Scorpio kruglovi Birula, 1910.

Abstract:
A new case of pedipalp regeneration is described and illustrated in a subadult female of Scorpio kruglovi Birula, 1910. A small, regenerated part of chela is observed on the anterior aspect of a normally developed right patella. This is the second published case of pedipalp regeneration.

Reference:
Yağmur EA, Kılıç MS, Güneş E. A new case of pedipalp regeneration in Scorpio kruglovi Birula, 1910 (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae). Euscorpius. 2024;2024(390):1-3. [Open Access]

 

New insight into the phylogeographic structure, distribution and morphological variability of Mesobuthus bogdoensis in Russia

 

Nikita Poverennyi and co-workers have recently published the results of a study of several populations of  Mesobuthus bogdoensis (Birula, 1896) (Buthidae) in Russia. An expanded redescription of the species is presented together with information of phylogeographic structure, distribution and morphological variability. An unidentified species is also described but not formally named.

Abstract;
Based on a study of a number of populations of Mesobuthus bogdoensis, the results of studying the phylogeographic structure and morphological variability are presented, and an analysis of the distribution of this species is carried out based on an analysis of the literature and our own data. An expanded diagnosis and morphological description for M. bogdoensis is presented. It has been proven that the indication in a number of literary sources of scorpions for the Guberlinsky Mountains (Orenburg Region, Russia) is a label error. In populations of M. bogdoensis from the right bank of the Volga River, a unique morphological character was identified — anal lobe divided in three parts; it is the first species of this genus to have two or three anal lobes; for other species the following combinations are known — two, three and three or four anal lobes. Principal component analysis (PCA) results based on comparative measurements of proportions indicate that the contribution of differences between different populations is less pronounced than the contribution of differences between males and females.

Reference:
Poverennyi NM, Mikhailov KG, Turbanov IS. Phylogeographic structure, distribution and morphological variability of Mesobuthus bogdoensis (Birula, 1896). Arthropoda Selecta. 2024;33(2):207-24. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae