Skip to main content
Log in

Courtship and Mating in the Giant Hairy Desert Scorpion, Hadrurus arizonensis (Scorpionida, Iuridae)

  • Published:
Journal of Insect Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hadrurus arizonensis is a large, long-lived species of North American desert scorpion with lengthy, stereotyped courtship behaviors that lead to sperm transfer via an external spermatophore. Courtship and mating behaviors in H. arizonensis and other members of the Iuridae family have not been described. H. arizonensis has reproductive behavior similar to that of other scorpions, including the promenade a deux, but with some unique components described here for the first time. Courtship and mating behaviors of H. arizonensis are presented in a flowchart to emphasize its stereotypical nature and suitability for experimental manipulation in field and laboratory studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Alexander, A. J. (1956). Mating in scorpions. Nature 178: 867-868.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, A. J. (1957). The courtship and mating of the scorpion, Opisthopthalmus latimanus. Proc. Zool. Soc. (London) 128: 529-543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, A. J. (1959). Courtship and mating in the buthid scorpions. Proc. Zool. Soc. (London) 133: 145-169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angermann, H. (1955). Indirekte Spermatophoren übertragung bei Euscorpius italicus (Hbst.) (Scorpiones, Chactidae). Naturwissenschaften 42: 303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angermann, H. (1957). Über Verhalten, Spermatophorenbildung und Sinnesphysiologie von Euscorpius italicus Hbst. und verwandten Arten (Scorpiones, Chactidae). Z. Tierpsy. 14: 276-302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benton, T. (1992). Determinants of male mating success in a scorpion. Anim. Behav. 43: 125-135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberhard, W.G. (1985). Sexual Selection and Animal Genitalia, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberhard, W. G. (1996). Female Control: Sexual Selection by Cryptic Female Choice, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberhard, W. G. (1997). Sexual selection by cryptic female choice in insects and arachnids. In Choe, J. C., and Crespi, B. J. (eds.), The Evolution of Mating Systems in Insects and Arachnids, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 32-57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fet, V., Sissom, W. D., Lowe, G., and Braunwalder, M. E. (1999). The Catalogue of Scorpions (Arachnida, Scorpiones) of the World (1758–1998), N. Y. Entomol. Soc., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francke, O. F. (1979a). Spermatophores of some North American scorpions (Arachnida, Scorpiones). J. Arachnol. 7: 19-32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francke, O. F. (1979b). Observations on the reproductive biology and life history of Megacormus gertschi Diaz (Scorpiones: Chactidae: Megacorminae). J. Arachnol. 7: 223-30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwynne, D. T. (1997). The evolution of edible 'sperm sacs' and other forms of courtship feeding in crickets, katydids and their kin (Orthoptera: Ensifera). In Choe, J. C., and Crespi, B. J. (eds.), The Evolution of Mating Systems in Insects and Arachnids, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 110-129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maccary, A. (1810). Mémoire sur le scorpion qui se trouve sur la montagne de Cette, Gabon, Paris, p. 48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Machan, L. (1968). Spectral sensitivity of scorpion eyes and the possible role of shielding pigment effect. J. Exp. Biol. 49: 95-105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melville, J. M., Tallarovic, S. K., Gundersen, L., and Brownell, P. H. (1999). Evidence of mate trailing in the giant hairy desert scorpion. Animal Behavior Society Abstracts, Bucknell, PA, P68, pp. 53-54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, G.A. (1970). Sperm competition and its evolutionary consequences in insects. Biol. Rev. 45: 525-567.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavan, M. (1958). Studi sugli scorpioni. IV. Sulla birifrangenza e sulla fluroescenza dell' epicuticola. Boll. Soc. Ent. It. 87: 23-26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peretti, A. V. (1996). Análisis del comportamiento de transferencia espermática de Bothriurus flavidus Kraepelin (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae). Rev. Soc. Entomol. Arg. 55.

  • Polis, G. A., and Farley, R. D. (1979). Behavior and ecology of mating in the cannibalistic scorpion, Paruroctonus mesaensis Stahnke (Scorpionida: Vaejovidae). J. Arachnol. 7: 33-46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polis, G. A., and Sissom, W.D. (1990). Life history. In Polis, G.A. (ed.), The Biology of Scorpions, Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA, pp. 161-223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shulov, A., and Amitai, P. (1958). On mating habits of three scorpions: Leiurus quinquestriatus H. et F., Buthotus judaicus E.Sim. and Nebo hierichonticus E. Sim. Arch. Inst. Pasteur d'Algerie 36: 351-369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stahnke, H. L. (1966). Some aspects of scorpion behavior. Bull. So. Calif Acad. Sci. 65: 65-80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stahnke, H. L. (1972). UV light, a useful field tool. BioScience 22: 604-607.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tallarovic, S. K. Melville, J. M., and Brownell, P. H. (2000). Agonistic behavior and intraspecific aggression in the giant hairy desert scorpion, Hadrurus arizonensis (submitted for publication).

  • Williams, S. C. (1969). Birth activities of some North American scorpions. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 31(1): 1-24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeh, D. W. (1987). Life history consequences of sexual dimorphism in a chernetid pseudoscorpion. Ecology 68: 1495-1501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeh, D.W., and Zeh, J. A. (1992). Dispersal-generated sexual selection in a beetle-riding pseudoscorpion. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 30: 135-142.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tallarovic, S.K., Melville, J.M. & Brownell, P.H. Courtship and Mating in the Giant Hairy Desert Scorpion, Hadrurus arizonensis (Scorpionida, Iuridae). Journal of Insect Behavior 13, 827–838 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007858400402

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007858400402

Navigation