A review of the scorpion predators and the introduction of Scarites Subterraneus, as a new predatory of them in Iran

Dehghani, R and Mahmoodi, S and Valizadeh, R (2016) A review of the scorpion predators and the introduction of Scarites Subterraneus, as a new predatory of them in Iran. J. ent. Res, 40 (3). pp. 291-296.

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Abstract

the report discusses a predatory beetle feeds on scorpions, trapped under the rocks in the holes of scorpions' habitat around the suburbs of Kashan in the north of Esfahan province and Ize in the east of Khuzestan province in Iran. Furtherence to the fact, a sample was investigated in the laboratory of environmental health department, keeping in the special container of animate insects. the prominent characteristic of this species was its so sturdy and strong elytron diffcult to be pierced, even with specifc pin used in entomology, to generate inanimate samples for the collection. In a series of laboratory experiments on the beetle, a variety of animate scorpions were placed in the same container used to keep the beetle and observed that the beetle attacked the Scorpions and fed on them. Armor-like elytron, cursorial legs and strengthful mandibles were the main characteristics of them. Such a strong mandible enables the beetle to rend the skin and the meat of the human hand. . It was observed that it can be considered as a capable predator of scorpions since it lives only on the same habitat of these scorpions. using the morphological parameters, this beetle was diagnosed as Scarites subterraneus species.

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