Scorpion biology and folklore in Durango City, Mexico

 

Mexico is a hot spot for scorpion diversity and also hosts many of the worlds most venomous species in the genus Centruroides Marx, 1890 (Buthidae).  One of the most famous scorpion places in Mexico is "The City of Scorpions" Durango, where the infamous and very venomous species Centruroides suffusus Pocock, 1902 is very common.

 Eduardo Gonzalez-Ponce and several co-workers have recently published an interesting article about different aspects of the biology of the Durango scorpion including the scorpions' response to light, medical importance and the use of its venom for research and medicine. Of special interest is the description of how the peoples of Durango utilize the scorpions as souvenirs for tourists and as an exotic food source.

Abstract:
Scorpions are incredible venomous animals found on almost every continent. According to fossil data, these animals have been able to adapt to the different environments from the Cambrian period until today with minimal anatomical changes. Scorpions are mostly nocturnal animals, and their ability to detect and tolerate light stimuli seems to be an essential tool for their subsistence, homing and mating. Centruroides suffuses is the most predominant specie of scorpions in Durango City, Mexico. Interestingly, and despite their life-threatening venom, these predatory arthropod animals have been adopted by locals as part of the landscape and daily life, by including them as part of their folklore and their economic resources, and learning how to take advantage of their abundance. In addition, the venom of scorpions possesses potential for therapeutic uses, while the scorpions themselves represent a nutritional food resource rich in protein, which has been poorly explored so far. Therefore, they are an excellent model for exploring the interplay between light sensibilities, survival and therapeutic–medicinal uses. Here, we review some of the potential benefits of scorpions and share the ways people in Durango City, Mexico, use UV light devices to detect and avoid or catch them for business and research purposes.

Reference:
Gonzalez-Ponce E, Rodríguez-Rangel S, Martinez R, Alvarado A, Ruiz-Baca E, Miranda P, et al. Scorpions, Science and Folklore in Durango City. Diversity. 2023;15(6):743. [Open Access]