Permanence of Euscorpius carpathicus (L.) larvae on the mother's back (Scorpiones, Chatidae)

Summary

The tendency of Euscorpius carpathicus larvae to remain on immobilized live or dried scorpions of the same or different species (Euscorpius flavicaudis) has been tested. Dried scorpions are less attractive than live ones, which are equally attractive regardless of species, sex or reproductive phase. The larvae find old (one year) dried specimens less attractive than freshly or recently (15 days) killed females, which are equally as attractive as live mothers (Table 1). A substratum treated with a chloroform extract of the mother's cuticle is consistently preferred by the larvae. The maternal behaviour (tolerating the larvae on the back) usually disappears about a week after the moult of the larvae, but it can be protracted if they are continually replaced by younger larvae (Table 2). The survival rate of larvae on live mothers is higher than on dried specimens.