New records of the not-so-rare males of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (Scorpions: Buthidae)

Parthenogenesis and sex-ratio bias may lead to erroneous assumptions concerning the natural history of some arachnids. To help address this issue, this study provides new data on the sex ratio and geographic distribution of sexual populations of the scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876). Ultraviolet light lanterns were used to detect specimens during nocturnal searches performed in both urban and non-urban environments scattered thorough northeastern Brazil. Males of T. stigmurus were reported for 10 new localities, and although we did not find males in urban environments, non-urban populations presented near symmetrical sex ratios. Such results suggest that reproductive strategies in this species may be modulated by environmental conditions. Also, the general tendency of less biased sex ratios in non-urban environments reported here is in accordance with previous studies that indicated the occurrence of geographical parthenogenesis in this species. Thereby, we propose that sexual populations of T. stigmurus are less rare than previously reported.

Automated summary

This study provides new data on the sex ratio and geographic distribution of the scorpion Tityus stigmurus, suggesting that sexual populations of this species may be more common than previously reported. The results show that non-urban populations have near symmetrical sex ratios, and support the occurrence of geographical parthenogenesis in this species.