On the occurence of the medically important scorpion Tityus stigmurus in the São Paulo area in Brazil

 

As mentioned in several other posts, the expanding distribution of medical important Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) species in Brazil and other South American countries has had an increasing attention, especially because many of these species are also spreading into urban habitats.

Paulo Goldoni and co-workers have recently published an article looking into the distribution of the medically important scorpion Tityus stigmurus Kraepelin, 1898 (Buthidae) in the municipality of Sorocaba, São Paulo in Brazil. The study conforms that this species is introduced and successfully established on this area.

Abstract:
Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) is among the most venomous scorpion species in Brazil. It occurs mainly in the northeastern region, particularly within the Caatinga biome, where it represents a major public health concern, with several fatal envenomation cases reported. The species has also been recorded as introduced in urban areas of São Paulo, confirming its establishment in a colder and more humid environment than its native range in the country. During the 2010s and 2020s, records of T. stigmurus were also reported from Sorocaba, about 100 km from São Paulo city. Here, we confirm the successful establishment of the species in Sorocaba, based on 53 examined specimens (41 females and 12 juveniles) collected between 1997 and 2025 and deposited in the arachnid collection of the Instituto Butantan (IBSP). Although no envenomation cases have been reported for this species in the municipality, our findings underscore the need for strengthened surveillance of T. stigmurus in Sorocaba and surrounding areas, as this and other Tityus species already confirmed in the region represent a major public health concern.

Reference:
Goldoni PA, Ennser JRP, Iniesta LF, Brescovit AD. Long-term surveillance and monitoring of Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876): a study in the municipality of Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Studies in Environmental and Animal Sciences. 2025;6(3):e21937.

Thanks to Paulo Goldoni for sending me their article!