Vegetation structure as the main source of variability in scorpion assemblages at small spatial scales and further considerations for the conservation of Caatinga landscapes

Free Pasture of Exotic Goats Reduces Diversity and Negatively Affects Body Condition in Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) Assemblage From Brazilian Seasonal Dry Tropical Forest

Extensive grazing carried out freely by exotic goats represents an important source of anthropogenic degradation in seasonally dry tropical forests of Brazil. The presence of these herbivores may negatively impact the local fauna through the reduction of habitat complexity. In this study, we investigate the effect of goat farming in scorpion assemblage from Brazilian seasonally dry tropical forest. Scorpions were sampled in 36 areas (18 disturbed and 18 undisturbed) distributed in three sites in the seasonally dry tropical forest of Brazil. At each location, we recorded a set of local variables such as litter depth, diameter at breast height of trees, vegetation density (trees and shrubs), and detritus (stones and fallen logs). In total, 396 scorpions were collected, distributed across six species and two families. Our results showed that scorpion diversity was negatively affected, with species richness and abundance reduced in areas influenced by goats. Furthermore, in these sites, the composition of the species was also affected, with habitat-generalist species favoring habitat-specialist species. Finally, sites with free pasture of goats presented scorpions with reduced body condition (body mass and size) than sites without goats. Furthermore, habitat degradation caused by free pasture of goats negatively affects the assemblage of scorpions in terms of their diversity and body condition the seasonally dry tropical forest of Brazil.

Scorpion sting in Hafizabad, Pakistan: Facility based epidemiological study

Scorpion envenomation is a widespread issue in tropical and subtropical countries. In the present study epidemiology of scorpion sting cases and potential treatment options in district Hafizabad, Pakistan are documented. Hafizabad city and the adjacent villages were selected for the data collection. Age, gender, time, site of scorpion sting on the body, scorpion sting symptoms, number of patients obtaining medical attention and the number of fatalities (if any) were noted. Data showed that scorpion envenomation often occurs in people between the ages of 16-47 years. There were more female victims (55%) and most of the scorpion sting incidences (55.49%) occurred between 07 PM and 02 AM Among body parts, both the hands (41.71%) and feet (48.57%) were more vulnerable to scorpion stings. In rural areas, the incidences of scorpion stings were higher (68.57%). The reported symptoms of scorpion stings include pain, hypertension, nausea and allergy. Out of all the victims, only 56.05% sought treatment from health care units as well as traditional medicine practitioners. However, others (43.94%) fully healed on their own without any treatment. People were using different types of plant-based materials and dead scorpions with mustard oil as a potent remedy against scorpion stings. Moreover, in the health care units there was no antivenom available and medical staff usually used common pain killers such as Xylocain and Lignocain for the treatment of scorpion sting.

Scorpions from Ceará State, Brazil: Distribution and ecological comments

Scorpions are venomous synanthropic arachnids, in 2019 they were responsible for more than 37000 cases of envenomation in the state of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil. To update the knowledge about the scorpiofauna in Ceará, a distribution list of scorpions collected/received by municipal agents of the Health Surveillance Service was performed in 165 municipalities (89%) of Ceará (2018 – 2019) and deposited in the Dr. Thomaz Corrêa Aragão Entomology Laboratory scientific collection, including species distribution maps and ecological data. This study included a total of 999 scorpions from two families (Buthidae and Bothriuridae) and eleven species. The most abundant species were: Tityus stigmurus (40.1%), Jaguajir rochae (37.2%), Bothriurus asper (8.3%) and Bothriurus rochai (6.7%), mainly inhabiting municipalities in the Caatinga biome. The first record of Tityus confluens and Tityus maranhensis in the Sobral mesoregion is herein presented, expanding the distribution of these species in Brazil.