Climatic and density-dependent drivers of population dynamics in a hazardous urban scorpion species over seven years

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  Climatic and density-dependent drivers of population dynamics in a hazardous urban scorpion species over seven years Abstract This link goes to a Portuguese section Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is the most medically important scorpion in Brazil, responsible for a growing number of accidents in urban areas. Despite its relevance, the population dynamics of this species in anthropogenic habitats remain poorly understood, particularly regarding the influence of abiotic factors on its abundance and reproduction. We analysed long-term data (2006–2013) from T. serrulatus collected in an urban cemetery in the municipality of Americana, São Paulo State, Brazil. Using spatiotemporal mixed models, we evaluated the effects of temperature and humidity at the graves on the abundance of brooded and non-brooded individuals, as well as on the ratio between the two reproductive groups. A total of 21,489 individuals were recorded, including 463 brooded individuals. W...

First Report of the Medically Significant Argentine Scorpion Tityus carrilloi (Buthidae) in Paraguay: Epidemiological Implications Amid Rising Regional Scorpionism

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First Report of the Medically Significant Argentine Scorpion Tityus carrilloi (Buthidae) in Paraguay: Epidemiological Implications Amid Rising Regional Scorpionism

Abstract

We report the first record of the medically important scorpion Tityus carrilloi in Paraguay, from the metropolitan area of Encarnación, Itapúa Department, near the Argentine border. Known for causing severe and fatal envenomings across northern Argentina, the presence of this species in southeastern Paraguay highlights the risk of cross-border dispersion. Along with the regional spread of the Brazilian Tityus serrulatus, this finding has significant epidemiological implications and underscores the urgent need for improved surveillance, diagnostics, and coordinated public health responses in Paraguay and neighboring countries, within the evolving landscape of scorpionism in southern South America.
Borges, A., Caballero, C., Rojas de Arias, A., Smith, P., Owen, M., Nishi, A., Maluff, Y., & Wieczorko, T. (2025). First Report of the Medically Significant Argentine Scorpion Tityus carrilloi (Buthidae) in Paraguay: Epidemiological Implications Amid Rising Regional Scorpionism. Toxicon, 108456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108456