Sexual cannibalism in scorpions fact or fiction

Authors: PERETTI ALFREDO V ACOSTA LUIS E BENTON TIM G

Publish Date: 1999/12/01

Volume: 68, Issue: 4, Pages: 485-496

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Abstract

Females of several scorpion species are currently deemed to be sexual cannibals but this reputation is however largely built on anecdotal evidence from the older literature Theoretical models predict that given the low rates of femalemale encounter males should allow themselves to be cannibalized after sperm transfer The present paper examines the information available for a number of species to determine a whether sexual cannibalism is as widespread as previously suggested and b whether it is likely to involve male selfsacrifice Information on three scorpions currently regarded as sexual cannibals is presented the bothriurids Bothriurus bonariensis CL Koch and Urophonius jheringii Pocock and the buthid Leiurus quinquestriatus Hemprich Ehrenberg No postmating cannibalism was ever observed in these species nor in another 19 representatives of four families In L quinquestriatus only two cases of cannibalism of the male by the female occurred both in the beginning of courtship and after long periods of food deprivation We suggest that if sexual cannibalism occurs in scorpions it is most likely to be of an ‘economic’ type where females perceive males as prey rather than mates and not a ‘selfsacrificial’ postmating cannibalism enhancing the fitness of the offspring of the male

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