Selection of environmental temperature by the yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The preferred temperature of the yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus was investigated since its dispersion is a matter of concern. Adult T. serrulatus, weighing 1.24 + 0.20 g (mean + sd) and with a standard length of 59.3 + 2.5 mm, were used. A metallic corridor (120 cm long, 5 cm large and 10 cm high) with thermal gradient ranging from 0°C to 40°C was used. Tityus serrulatus chose and stayed in temperatures ranging from 14°C to 38°C when safe conditions were offered (dark and thigmotactic stimuli). The number of animals that remained in the 11°C-20°C, 21°C-30°C, and 31°C-40°C temperature zones were 8, 8, and 9, respectively. The chi-square test (degree of freedom = 2) showed that differences were not significant (p>0.05). Some animals moved to lower temperature areas (less than 8°C) when the corridor was completely illuminated and thigmotactic stimuli were absent, which led the animals to present a torpor state. It is concluded that T. serrulatus does not select a specific environmental temperature. Associated with the capacity of temporally surviving at low temperatures, this species seems to be highly adaptable to different thermal zones.

Relationship between environmental variables and surface activity of scorpions in the Arid Chaco ecoregion of Argentina

“…Daily and seasonal patterns of scorpion activity are affected by both biological factors (e.g., the presence of predators, prey, or potential mates) and environmental factors (Polis 1990;Hoshino et al 2006). Soil type, topography, hydrology, soil humidity, food resources, and especially temperature and precipitation (Polis 1990;Dias et al 2006;Yamaguti & Pinto-da-Rocha 2006) have been shown to affect scorpion activity in arid region ecosystems.…”

Avaliação da mobilidade de escorpiões Tityus serrulatus em área de infestação urbana de Americana, São Paulo, Brasil

“…Os eventos de dispersão em espécimes de escorpiões são dependentes de fatores extrínsecos (condições abióticas e bióticas) e intrínsecos (fisiologia e comportamento da espécie), sendo muito influenciados pela abundância, distribuição e renovação de presas e pela densidade de predadores em sua área geográfica de vida 12,13 . Os fatores abióticos (temperatura e umidade), estiveram dentro da zona de conforto térmico para T. serrulatus, durante o período experimental, nas respectivas áreas 14 . Devido à ausência de pesquisas sobre o comportamento e a atividade de T. serrulatus em área urbana e a escassez de experimentos configurados em áreas naturais de vida para essa espécie, foi difícil estabelecer comparações e correlações com os resultados obtidos neste estudo.…”

Chemical Control of Spiders and Scorpions in Urban Areas

“…The lack of competitors www.intechopen.com and predators such as monkeys, coatis, seriemas, toads and frogs, also allows the scorpions to proliferate rapidly [168]. The preferred temperature of the yellow scorpion T. serrulatus was investigated [170] and it was concluded that this species does not have a specific preferred temperature within the range of 14°C -38°C and may even tolerate temperatures below 8°C, when in a torpid state. This fact suggests that the species is highly adaptable to different thermal zones.…”