Microhabitat preferences for the errant scorpion, Centruroides vittatus (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

Abstract

Vegetation as a preferred microhabitat for scorpions has rarely been considered despite many Buthidae (the bark scorpions) being non-burrowing errant scorpions that are active on both the ground and vegetation. Microhabitats can serve multiple functions for Centruroides vittatus (Say 1821), but a particular microhabitat can be preferred for a certain function such as a refuge, foraging, or feeding.Observations of microhabitat use by C. vittatus were performed in Laredo, Texas of the Tamaulipan Biotic Province. Comparisons of microhabitat use by C. vittatus at different temperatures or precipitation levels were performed. Foraging and feeding by C. vittatus among microhabitat classes were also compared. The observed use of vegetation by C. vittatus during different seasons was compared to the expected use based on relative abundance of vegetation in the habitat.Air temperature, but not precipitation, had a significant effect on microhabitat use by C. vittatus. Microhabitat had a significant effect on foraging of C. vittatus with caterpillars comprising 34.6% of the prey items and half of the scorpions feeding on caterpillars were in blackbrush ( Acacia rigidula). The lowest proportion of scorpions observed feeding was on the ground (3.8%) and the highest in blackbrush (40.4%). The frequency of C. vittatus among vegetation classes was significantly different compared to the relative abundance of plant species in the plot. Scorpions were observed on prickly pear cactus (Opuntia engelmannii) and strawberry cactus ( Echinocereus enneacanthus) at a higher frequency than expected, and scorpions were observed on guajillo (Acacia berlandieri) and tasajillo (Opuntia leptocaulis) at a lower frequency than expected. The frequency of scorpions on blackbrush was higher than expected during the spring.Vegetation is an important microhabitat for C. vittatus in south Texas. The results indicate the possibility that C. vittatus in south Texas used various plant species to carry prey captured on the ground into vegetation to feed, used blackbrush to forage for caterpillars, and used strawberry and prickly pear cacti as a possible refuge.

Diversidad y composición estacional de la escorpiofauna (Arachnida: Scorpiones) del archipiélago Los Choros (Región de Coquimbo, Chile)

“…El hecho que existan diferencias relacionadas con la abundancia entre las distintas islas, refl ejada por una diferencia de taxa que solo es relevante entre la isla Choros y Damas-Gaviota, pero no, entre Damas y Gaviota, reafi rma las propuestas del efecto del micro-hábitat en la distribución y abundancia de los escorpiones (Polis 1990;McReynolds 2004;2008), lo que implicaría que el sustrato y las formaciones vegetacionales presentes en cada hábitat infl uyen directamente en la presencia y niveles de abundancia de algunas especies de escorpiones (Polis 1980(Polis , 1990Prendini 2001;McReynolds 2004McReynolds , 2008. Esto es interesante ya que en el sistema insular estudiado, la cobertura vegetacional es baja y predominan los ambientes dunarios en las islas Damas y Gaviota, a diferencia de la isla Choros en la que es notorio el predominio de los ambientes pedregosos.…”

Diversity of scorpion fauna of Saswad-Jejuri, Pune District, Maharashtra, western India

“…All other microhabitats show 50% or more similarity with each other indicating more species overlap. Among these, there are two clades, one comprising of microhabitats that are more arid and xeric while the other comprising microhabitats that have some kind of vegetation, indicating that vegetation is an important microhabitat favorable for a few species such as Hottentotta pachyurus as mentioned by McReynolds (2008). Vegetation is rarely considered as a microhabitat where scorpions are found despite many Buthidae (the bark scorpions) being found on both the ground and on vegetation.…”

Locomotory activity and orientation ofMesobuthus gibbosus(Scorpiones: Buthidae) in central Aegean Archipelago

“…Journal of Natural History 1455 potentially expose scorpions to their predators (Polis 1980;Skutelsky 1996;Tigar and Osborne 1999;McReynolds 2004;Kaltsas, Stathi and Mylonas 2008). On the other hand, during the nights of waning crescent, new moon and waxing crescent they were much more active, exhibited locomotive activity, while exposed to the low moonlight.…”

“…The only species reported not to have been affected by moonlight is Smeringurus mesaensis (Polis 1980;Warburg and Polis 1990), although reproduction and foraging events were minimal during nights with high levels of moonlight. The lunar cycle is also associated with predation risk for scorpions from potential scorpion predators (Hadley and Williams 1968;Polis 1980;Polis et al 1981, McReynolds 2004 during high illumination (Skutelsky 1996).…”