Abstract

ALVAREZ, DEIVYS et al. Microhabitat use by scorpions in a tropical dry forest relict of the Colombian Caribbean . Rev. Colomb. Entomol. [online]. 2013, vol.39, n.2, pp.301-304. ISSN 0120-0488.

Microhabitat use by scorpions was studied in the Reserva Forestal Protectora Serranía de Coraza, department of Sucre, a tropical dry forest relict of the Colombian Caribbean. The scorpions were collected between 19:00 and 00:00 hours by searching using an ultraviolet lamp and entomological forceps, and were preserved in 70% ethanol. One hundred nine individuals belonging to four species were captured. Opisthacanthus elatus was the most frequent (n = 53), followed by Tityus tayrona (n = 28), Tityus asthenes (n = 26) and Ananteris columbiana (n = 2). Opisthacanthus elatus and Tityus asthenes were found significantly associated with low or within objects on the ground microhabitat and had a niche overlap of 91%. Tityus tayrona was collected only in low vegetation and A. columbiana was captured on fallen leaves and low vegetation. This is the first report on scorpion microhabitat use in Colombia.

Keywords : Ecology of the scorpion; Habitat selection; Opisthacanthus elatus; Tityus tayrona; Tityus asthenes; Ananteris columbiana.

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