Examples of intraguild predation in scorpions

 

Scorpions prey on a diveresity of different preys including members of their own order. In addtion, several scorpion species live in the same habitat and therefore may compete for the same resources (e. g. prey). In settings like this, intraguild predation may occur (that is "the killing and sometimes eating of a potential competitor of a different species" [Wikipedia]).

In a recent article, Şahin Toprak and co-workers reports of three cases of intraguild predation, involving the species Mesobuthus mesopotamicus (Penther, 1912), Compsobuthus matthiesseni (Birula, 1905) and Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) in Turkey (all family Buthidae).

Abstract:
Scorpions are predators of a wide range of invertebrates even including other scorpions. Larger species commonly prey on smaller species or juveniles. Here, we report three cases of intraguild predation of Mesobuthus mesopotamicus (Penther, 1912) and Compsobuthus matthiesseni (Birula, 1905) by Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Şırnak Province, Turkey. These are the first cases reporting antagonistic interactions among scorpions in Turkey.

Reference:
Toprak Ş, Kurt R, Yagmur EA. First report of intraguild predation in scorpions (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Turkey. Euscorpius. 2022(363):1-4. [Open Access]

A new species in the little known genus Spinochactas from French Guiana

 

Wilson Lourenco and co-workers have recently described a second species in the endemic genus Spinochactas Lourenço, 2016 (Chactidae) from French Guiana.

Spinochactas camopi Lourenco, Chevalier & Ythier, 2022 

This is the smallest known chactid with a total lengt of 13-15 mm.

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Spinochactas Lourenço, 2016 (Chactidae) is described from the commune of Camopi, located close to the Eastern border of French Guiana with Brazil. The new species, Spinochactas camopi n. sp., is the second species belonging to the genus Spinochactas found in French Guiana, which remains endemic to this French overseas department. The description of the new species brings further evidence to the validity of the genus Spinochactas and to its biogeographic pattern of distribution which is now confirmed both for Inselberg formations and lowland rainforests of French Guiana. With the description of this new species, the number of known scorpion species occurring in French Guiana is increased to 40, of which 31 are endemic.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Chevalier J, Ythier É. Second record of the genus Spinochactas Lourenço, 2016 in French Guiana and description of a new species (Scorpiones: Chactidae). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France (NS). 2022:1-7. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Eric for sending med the article!

Family Chactidae

A new species of Orthochirus from Saudi Arabia

 

Frantisek Kovarik and Pavel Just have recently described a new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia.

Orthochirus katarinae Kovarik & Just, 2022

Abstract:
We describe a new species Orthochirus katerinae sp. n. from Saudi Arabia, previously cited as Orthochirus innesi Simon 1910, ssp. ?, the name many years used as an ‘umbrella’ for various Orthochirus from North Africa and Arabia. The new species is described based on males characterized mainly by: total length 26–30 mm; pectinal teeth number 16–20; movable finger of pedipalps with 7–8 rows of denticles, 8–9 ID and 7 OD; tarsomere I of legs I–III with 3–5 long setae; ratio length/width of metasoma V 1.13–1.16; pedipalp femur length/width ratio 3.30–3.32.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Just P. Orthochirus katerinae sp. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia. Euscorpius. 2022(362):1-9. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

On the distribution of two buthids in Panama

 

Ramy Jhasser Martínez and co-workers have recently published an article with new data on the distribution of Centruroides edwardsii (Gervais, 1843) and Tityus ocelote Francke & Stockwell, 1987 (both Buthidae) in Panama. 

Abstract:
Centruroides edwardsii (Gervais, 1843) (Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837) is recorded for the first time in Panama upon three females collected in Chilibre (northern Panama). Additionally five females and one male of Tityus ocelote Francke & Stockwell, 1987 were collected in a small farm in Capira (Western Panama) being the first record of this species in the Pacific side of Panama. This contribution provides additional information on geographic distribution of these species.

Reference:
Martínez RJ, Villegas-Guzmán GA, Mendoza L, Moreno E, Emmen D, Quirós DI. First Record of Centruroides edwardsii (Gervais, 1843) and New Geographic Distribution of Tityus ocelote Francke & Stockwell, 1987 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Panama. Entomol News. 2022;130(3):260-4, 5. [Subscription required for full text]

Additional information about the recently described species Compsobuthus khaybari from Saudi Arabia

 

Compsobuthus khaybari Abu Afifeh, Aloufi & Al-Saraireh, 2021 (Buthidae) was described from one male specimen in 2021. Abdulhadi Aloufi and co-workers have discovered new specimens of this species and have recently published an article with addition information about this buthid.

Abstract:
Compsobuthus khaybari was described by Abu Afifeh et al. (2021) based on a single male collected form Ain El-Hamah, Khaybar, Saudi Arabia. Recently more specimens were collected from Mughera’a including males and one female. The female of this species is fully described and illustrated.

Reference:
Aloufi A, Afifeh BA, Al-Saraireh M, Amr ZS. Complementary information on Compsobuthus khaybari Abu Afifeh, Aloufi & Al-Saraireh, 2021, with the description of an adult female (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2022;19(1):7-14. [Open Access]

Thanks to Thanks to Hisham K. El-Hennawy for informing me about this article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Buthus from Kenya

 

The distribution of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) in Africa has been expanded for the last decade. Eric Ythier and Wilson Lourenco have recently described a new species, which is the first in the genus reported from Kenya.

Buthus turkana Ythier & Lourenco, 2022

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion, Buthus turkana sp. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae), is described from the northwest of Kenya, in the Turkana County nearby Lake Turkana, in the Kenyan Rift Valley. This is the first record of a Buthus species in Kenya, enlarging the pattern of distribution of the genus.

Reference:
Ythier E, Lourenco WR. First record of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 from Kenya (Scorpiones: Buthidae) and description of a new species. Serket. 2022;19(1):1-6. [Open Access]

Thanks to Hisham K. El-Hennawy and Eric Ythier for informing me about this article!

Family Buthidae