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A Comparative Study of Nesting Sites and Burrowing Habits of Two Iranian Burrowing Scorpions



Vazirianzadeh B1, 2, 5 ; Jalali A3 ; Chrom M4 ; Mohammady A2, 5 ; Vatandoost H6 ; Panahi F2, 5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Social Determinants of health Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
  2. 2. Depatrment of Medical Entomology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
  3. 3. Depatrment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Toxicology Research Centre, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
  4. 4. Depatrment of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Ahvaz University of Shahid Chamran, Ahvaz, Iran
  5. 5. Depatrment of Medical Entomology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
  6. 6. Depatrment of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases Published:2017

Abstract

Background: The different features of scorpions can be successfully described by their nesting and burrowing behaviors. There is little information about burrowing activity of Iranian scorpions. Methods: The current study was performed to compare the burrowing behavior between two burrowing Iranian scorpions, Scorpio maurus and Odonthubutus bidentatus by describing 30 nests of each species regarding collecting the scorpions. Results: Scorpio maurus and O. bidentatus have a tendency to make nest with elliptical, round-like entrance and oval shape with arch at the top, respectively. There was not any significant difference between nest entrance properties of two scorpions. One-way ANOVA test showed that the height and diameter of two species nests were not significantly different. A Pearson correlation also showed a relative strong direct relationship between height and diameter of S. maurus nests than O. bidentatus. This correlation was not significant in the case of O. bidentatus. The results provided additional habitat information of scorpions. Conclusion: The nests morphology characteristics of two Iranian scorpions including shape, depth, length and diameter depend are different from each other based on the following factors: species, soil texture, soil moisture and region conditions.