Once a prey, now a predator: an unusual record of a scorpion (Scorpiones: Chactidae) predated by a katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) in the western Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Orthopterans are an important component of the food chain. The species belonging to the order Orthoptera are herbivores or predators, and several behave as opportunistic predators. However, their predatory habits are not well understood. Here we report the predation of a Chactopsis sp. scorpion by a Hyperomerus sp. katydid in a fragment of terra firme forest in the western Brazilian Amazon. The specimens were found on a 60-cm tall bush. The scorpion showed spasmodic motions of the metasoma while it was being devoured by the katydid. This is the first report of a predator-prey interaction between an orthopteran and a scorpion in the Amazon biome. We believe that records of this type are important to allow a better understanding of predator-prey interactions in tropical invertebrate communities.

Description of predatory behavior of the genus Lutosa walker, 1869 (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae: Lutosinae) in Brazil

“…There is an unusual record of a scorpion (Scorpiones: Chactidae) preyed on by a scorpion (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) in the western Brazilian Amazon. Natural predators are birds, birds, primates, lizards, and amphibians [20][21].…”

Cannibalism in Tityus metuendus Pocock, 1897 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from the Brazilian Amazon

“…These arachnids typically have sedentary and territorial habits, being aggressive to other scorpion species or their juveniles (Polis 1990;Moreira et al 2022). Due to their cryptic habits, field interaction reports of scorpions with other animals are relatively scarce in the literature, particularly in the Amazon region (Lourenço et al 2006;Battirola et al 2015;Almeida et al 2022). For example, in the southern Brazilian Amazon, an individual of Tityus strandi (Werner, 1939) was found preying on the spider Ancylometes rufus (Walckenaer, 1837) (Battirola et al 2015).…”

“…For example, in the southern Brazilian Amazon, an individual of Tityus strandi (Werner, 1939) was found preying on the spider Ancylometes rufus (Walckenaer, 1837) (Battirola et al 2015). Recently, Almeida et al (2022) described an unusual predation event where a Hyperomerus Redtenbacher, 1891 katydid was found preying on a Chactopsis Kraepelin, 1912 scorpion in the western Brazilian Amazon. These reports are useful for comprehension of food web dynamics in natural environments.…”