Sting use in two species of Parabuthus scorpions (Buthidae)

Scorpions sometimes capture and crush prey with their pedipalps and do not use their sting to inject venom. Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that sting use is selective, resulting in conservation of venom. Sting use in relation to prey size and activity was studied in two African sc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of arachnology 1993, Vol.21 (1), p.60-63
Main Author: Rein, Jan Ove
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aggressive behaviour
Animals
behaviour
Buthidae
City states
comportamiento
comportamiento agresivo
comportement
comportement agressif
depredacion
Ingestion
Insect larvae
Larvae
Pions
predation
Scorpiones
Scorpions
Stinging
Venoms
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Summary:Scorpions sometimes capture and crush prey with their pedipalps and do not use their sting to inject venom. Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that sting use is selective, resulting in conservation of venom. Sting use in relation to prey size and activity was studied in two African scorpions, Parabuthus liosoma and P. pallidus. Restrictive use of the sting was observed in both species. Decreased use of the sting occurred with decreasing size/resistance of the prey. Also, prey were not stung immediately after being seized, but only after resisting capture. The scorpions did not sting non-resistant prey. These results support the notion that sting use depends upon the size, morphology and resistance of the prey as determined during initial interactions with the scorpion.
ISSN:0161-8202
1937-2396