An overview of the scorpion fauna of the Iberian Peninsula

 

                                            Illustration: Rowanwindwhistler Wikipedia CC-BY-SA

The scorpion fauna in the Iberian Peninsula has grown from a few species to more than 20 in the last two decades. Gerard Dupre has recently published an overview of the current scorpion fauna from this region in Europe.

Abstract:
No abstract.

Reference:
Dupre G. La faune scorpionique de la Péninsule Ibérique (Arachnida : Scorpiones). Arachnides. 2025(121):8-12. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard for sharing the content of Arachnides with The Scorpion Files!

Relationship between scorpion sting events and environmental conditions in mainland France

 

Jules-Antoine Vaucel and co-workers have published a thorough study of scorpion stings in mainland France. This is interesting in itself and I find it especially interesting that they report of one event of scorpion sting involving the enigmatic B. xambeui Simon, 1879 (Belisaiidae). Unfortunately, they present no details on this incident, but I guess it caused no serious morbidity. Other species represented in the study were Buthus occitanus (Amoreux, 1789) (Buthidae) and Euscorpius concinnus (Koch, 1837), Euscorpius italicus (Herbst, 1800), Euscorpius tergestinus (Koch, 1837), and Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis (De Geer, 1778) (all in the family Euscorpiidae).

As the title indicate, the authors have tried to find a relationship relationship between scorpion sting events and environmental conditions like level of sunshine, temperature etc. The authors conclude that climatic variations could well predict encounters between humans and scorpions in France. 

Abstract:
In the world, the impact of environmental conditions on the number of scorpion events was evaluated in North Africa,Middle East, and the Amazonian region but not in Europe. In mainland France, scorpion species described are Buthus occitanus (Amoreux, 1789), Belisarius xambeui (Simon, 1879) and 4 Euscorpiidae: Euscorpius concinnus (Koch, 1837), Euscorpius italicus (Herbst, 1800), Euscorpius tergestinus (Koch, 1837), and Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis (De Geer, 1778). We aimed to describe the impact of environmental conduction on the number of scorpion events. For this, a retrospective multi-center study was conducted with data from the French poison control centers files about scorpion events between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020. During the study period, 975 incoming calls for scorpion events were recorded and 574 were related to scorpions native to mainland France and Corsica: B. occitanus (n = 86), Euscorpiidae species (n = 222), B. xambeui (n = 1), and undetermined species (n = 265). Cases were mostly reported along the Mediterranean coast, along rivers, and in cities with a trading port. The number of scorpion events was linked to the rivers' water level, rivers' flow, temperature, sunshine, and pluviometry (P < 0.05 for all variables). B. occitanus need warmest and driest environment than Euscorpiidae spp. A link between the severity of the envenoming and climatic condition or seasonality was not demonstrated.

Reference:
Vaucel JA, Larreche S, Paradis C, Labadie M, Courtois A, Grenet G, et al. Relationship Between Scorpion Stings Events and Environmental Conditions in Mainland France. J Med Entomol. 2021. [Subscription required for full text]

Remarkable cave scorpion finding in Sardinia reveals new genus and species

Sometimes you get surprise by remarkable scorpions findings and this time it is actually in Europe. Gioele Tropea and Carlo Onnis recently published an article describing the finding of a new genus and species in a cave system in Sardinia (Italy). I'm thrilled that there are still hidden scorpion gems like this around!

Sardoscorpius Tropea & Onnis, 2020 (new genus)

Sardoscorpius troglophilus Tropea & Onnis, 2020 (new species)

As the name implies, the new species has been only collected inside two natural caves. Interestingly, the new scorpion lacks marked adaptations to the life in caves like missing eyes, reduced pigmentation etc. Sardoscorpius has not been found outside the cave system and seems to prefer a troglobitc life style despite missing traditional cave dwelling characteristics.

The new species looks very much like the troglomorphic (eutroglophile) Belisarius Simon, 1879 found in and outside caves in the Pyrenees, in Spain and France, except for having well developed eyes. And this species is actually Sardoscorpius' closest relative. Belisarius has so far been placed in the family Troglotayosicidae together with the genus Troglotayosicus Lourenço, 1981, but the taxonomic position of these genera are unclear. Until further investigations, Tropea & Onnis have chosen to elevate Belisariidae Lourenco, 1998 to family status and include Belisarius and Sardoscorpius in this family.

Abstract:
A remarkable discovery in the Italian scorpion fauna is herein presented with the description of a new scorpion genus and species from Sardinia, Sardoscorpius troglophilus gen. n. et sp. n., known only from natural caves. It is related to the Pyrenean relict endogean genus Belisarius Simon, 1879, and placed in the family Belisariidae Lourenço, 1998 stat. n., which is here elevated to family status. With this description, a member of Belisariidae stat. n. is registered for the first time in Italy. At the moment, the Italian fauna of scorpions includes three families (Belisariidae stat. n., Buthidae and Euscorpiidae), five genera (Buthus, Alpiscorpius, Euscorpius, Tetratrichobothrius and Sardoscorpius gen. n.) and 23 species. The new taxon is the first and only endemic scorpion genus found in Italy.

Reference:
Tropea G, Onnis C. A remarkable discovery of a new scorpion genus and species from Sardinia (Scorpiones: Chactoidea: Belisariidae). Arachnida - Rivista Aracnologica Italiana. 2020;VI(XXVI):3-25.

Thanks to Gioele Tropea for sending me this very interesting article!

Family Belisariidae