Table Of Content

BULLETrN DE L'rNSTITUT ROYAL DES SCIENCES NATURELLES DE BELGIQUE BIOLOGIE, 72-SUPPL.: 79-80, 2002 BULLETIN VAN HET KONrNKLIJK BELGISCH INSTITUUT VOOR NATUURWETENSCHAPPEN BIOLOGIE, 72-SUPPL.: 79-80, 2002 Soon a scorpion in the Belgian fauna? Analysis of some observed cases M. LONEUX Extended abstract During these last years, eight cases of presence of small Euscorpius scorpions, found in houses or in surrounding areas, have been reported by private persons or police services to the Zoological Museum at Liege. We have excluded here three other big scorpions coming from Africa. · · The genus Euscorpius (Arthropoda, Scorpiones, Eu scorpiidae, ex-Chactidae) is represented in Europe by several species, whose distributions do not touch the Belgian boundaries, even if they cover some parts of neighbouring countries (France, Germany). FET et a/. (2000) have published a complete catalog of the scor Photo 2 - Euscmpius italicus (HERBST, 1800). pions of the world and their distribution. An Euscorpius identification key based on current re search is availabe on the web site "The Scorpion Files" The specimens observed in the Liege area are geographi (www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/index.htm). The speci cally dispersed and found relatively far away from each mens brought to the Museum were identified as Euscor other (Liege, Herstal, Baelen, Spa, Lierneux, Bonsin, pius jlavicaudis (DE GEER, 1778) (photo I) and one Eu Jemeppe, etc.). Their presence is certainly not due to scoi?Jius italicus (HERBST, 1800) (photo 2). E. jlavicaudis dispersion of individuals starting from a colony unknown in patiicular is a small dark scorpion with pale legs in the region, since these scorpions are known to be common throughout southern Europe (Provence for ex relatively sedentary (BENTON 1992a). They have most ample). probably landed in Belgium as stowaways of route trans port, hidden in the freight or the luggage from holidays, originating from their usual distribution. In the case of Euscmpius italicus found in a bath (photo 2), the owners had stayed two months before in Y ougoslavia, where this species does exist. An Euscorpius flavicaudis population probably intro duced is well established, out of the distribution area of the species for more than I 00 years: in a port of South England (Sheerness Docks, Kent), at least since 1870 (BENTON l992a, 1993a). [t proliferates there in many of the less-disturbed areas of the dockyard and is especially common in cracks of an ancient brick-built perimeter wall, where the mortar pointing has crumbled away (BENTON 199la, 1992a). This population has been the subject of several observations and research activities such as a PhD thesis on behaviour and ecology of this scorpion species (BENTON 1990, 1991a , 1991b , 1992a, Photo 1 - Eusc01pius jlavicaudis (DE GEER, 1778). 1992b, l993a, l993b). 80 M.LONEUX Nothing similar is yet reported from Belgium, but the cas signales au Musee de Zoologie font craindre une cases presented to the Zoological Museum are probably OCCUITence plus impOitante en realite. Le jour Oll les only a fraction of the real occurrencies. Would the intro animaux transportes seront des femelles gravides, une duced animals be gravid females, a colony could establish colonie pourrait s'etablir dans un lieu propice: les scor itself in a proper place: the scorpions are viviparous, the pions sont des animaux vivipares, les femelles mettent a females give birth to broods mainly at the end of the bas generalement Ia fin de l'e~e. Cette espece est summer (BENTON 1992a). This species is fortunately heureusement inoffensive pour l'homme, puisque sa pi harmless: the sting is less than a pick-prick to humans qure fait l'effet d"tme simple piql!re d'insecte. (BENTON 1992a). References Resume BENTON, T.G., 1990. The behaviour and ecology of scorpions Bientot un scorpion dans Ia faune beige? Analyse de cas (unpublished PhD thesis). University of Cambridge. de presences observees BENTO , T.G., 1991a . Reproduction and parental care in the scorpion Eusc01pius jlavicaudis. Behaviour, 117: 20-28. Ces demieres annees, huit petits scorpions du genre Eu BENTON, T.G., 1991b . The life history of Eusco1piusjlavicaudis scOJpius trouves dans des maisons ou aux abords ont ete (Scorpiones, Chactidae). The Journal of Arachnology, 19: signales au Musee de Zoologie de Liege. Le genre Eu 105-110. scOJ'pius est represente en Europe par plusieurs especes dont les distributions ne touchent pas les limites de Ia BENTON, T.G., 1992a. The ecology of the scorpion Eusc01pius Belgique. Les individus signales en region liegeoise et jlavicaudis in England. Journal of Zoology, 226: 351-368. identifies sont des E. jlavicaudis (DE GEER, 1778): par BENTON, T.G., l992b. Determinants of male mating success in a ailleurs tres commun dans le midi de Ia France, et un E. scorpion. Animal Behaviour, 43: 125-135. italicus (HERBST, 1800). lis sont geographiquement tres BENTON, T.G., 1993a. The reproductive ecology of Eusco1pius eloignes: Liege, Herstal, Baelen, Spa, Lierneux, Bonsin, jlavicaudis in England. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Jemeppe. lis ont vraisemblablement debarque en Belgi Brisbane, 33 (2): 455-460. que comme passagers clandestins caches dans des march BENTON, T.G., 1993b. Courtship behaviour of the scorpion, andises ou des bagages, en provenance de leur aire de Eusc01piusjlavicaudis. Bull. Br. arachnol. Soc., 9 (5): 13 7-141. repartition habituelle. FET, V., SISSOM, W.D., LOWE, G. & BRAUNWALDER, M.E., 2000. Une population de Euscorpius jlavicaudis probable Catalog of the Scorpions of the World (1758-1998). The New meat introduite est toutefois bel et bien implantee au nord York Entomological Society. et hors de son a ire de distribution depuis plus de l 00 ans dans un port du sud de I' Angleterre (Sheerness Docks, Kent). Elley prolifere dans un biotope tres particulier: les fentes et crevasses d'un ancien mur d'enceinte en briques. Michele LONEUX Cette population a fait I' objet de nombreuses observa Musee de Zoologie de l'Universite de Liege a tions et etudes, dont une these de doctorat consacree Institut de Zoologie I' ethologie et I' ecologie de cette espece. Quai Ed. Van Beneden 22 Rien de tel n'a encore ete observe en Belgique, mais les B-4020 Liege