What is in the diet of Buthus scorpions from Algeria?

 

It is well known that scorpions catch and eat a diversity of prey types, even other scorpions and arthropods like reptiles and small mammals. As long as scorpions are able to subdue a potential prey, they will eat it. 

Abdelwahab Chedad and co-workers have recently published a study on the feeding behavior and diet of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) species in Algeria. As expected, they found that many different invertebrates were on the menu, even though representatives of Orthoptera and Coleoptera were most common. Cannibalism and intraguild predation were also observed in several cases.

Abstract:
This study is an empirical observation of the feeding behavior of the Buthus Leach, 1815, in the wild of the Ouarsenis Mountains (Tissemsilt and Tiaret regions, northwestern Algeria) during the study period (2021–2022). We have observed 29 instances of Buthus species eating arthropods. The identifications of this prey yielded a list of 20 species belonging to 15 families and 9 orders. We note a dominance of the Orthoptera and Coleoptera, with 3 families and 5 species for each. Gryllidae and Scarabaeidae are the most represented, with 3 and 2 species, respectively. Also, we record some insects larvae eating and many cases of cannibalism and intraguild predation. All of the Buthus species' prey are intermediate or smaller arthropods.

Reference:
Chedad A, Hammou MA, El Bouhissi M, Chedad A, Sadine SE. Insights on the diet of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Ouarsenis mountains of northwestern Algeria. Revista Ibérica de Aracnología. (42):267-71. [Available in ResearchGate]