A new Euscorpius species from Italy

The new Euscorpius species is so far only known from the Naples Province in Italy.

Gioele Tropea and co-workers have studies an Euscorpius population in the Naples Province (including the Capri island) and concluded that this is an unique species.The populations in this area was previously included in E. sicanus and E, tergestinus (Capri population).

Euscorpius parthenopeius Tropea, Parmakelis, Sziszkosz, Balanika & Bouderka, 2014 (Euscorpiidae)

The new species is anthropotolerant (as many other species in the genus). It was collected in inhabited areas such as in the city of Naples, inside a classroom of an art institute and in the ruins made of tuff bricks, but also in lapidicolous and corticolous habitats.

The name is an ancient name for the city of Naples and has nothing to do with parthenogenesis.

Abstract:
A new scorpion species, Euscorpius parthenopeius sp. n., is described from Naples Province, Italy. It is characterized by long-limbed overall appearance, medium size, light to medium brown to reddish color, and a typical trichobothrial count (Pv = 8–9, et = 6, em = 4, and eb = 4). Due to its morphological ambiguity, it cannot be included in any of the described subgenera of the genus. We include in the new species three specimens from Capri Island described among syntypes of E. carpathicus ilvanus Di Caporiacco, 1950.

Reference:
Tropea G, Parmakelis A, Sziszkosz N, Balanika K, Bouderka A. A new species of Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 from Naples Province, Italy (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae). Euscorpius. 2014 (182):1-12. [Free full text]

Thanks to Gioele Tropea for sending me their article!

Family Euscorpiidae