The Ecofaunistics of Scorpions in Gonabad

The scorpion stinging is one of the most important health problems in the world and poisoning by scorpion’s poison is considered a matter of some medical urgency. Therefore, it is necessary to become acquainted with the ecology and biology of scorpion’s species in any area. Few studies have been carried out regarding the scorpion’s biology and laboratory studies are not comparable with the natural condition of this arthropod. The purpose of the present study is to determine the scorpions’ biology and ecology in Gonabad city in order to present some preventive health and medical strategies against scorpion stinging. This study is a kind of descriptive and applied one which was conducted based on random cluster sampling method in Gonabad, Iran. In so doing, 218 scorpions caught from April to August (2008) were grouped based on the hunting area and then transferred to the laboratory in separate bottles containing alcohol 70%. And finally, they were identified using the identification guide for Iranian scorpions. In general, 218 scorpion samples were caught from different zoogeographical areas in Gonabad. They were three species of Odontobuthus dorie, Androctonus crassicaud, Mesobothus eupeus from Buthidae family. The greatest number of the collected scorpions was from the desert areas with clay and sand and they belonged to Odontobuthus dorie (61%) and the fewest number belonged to Androctonus crassicauda (10%). However, the most abundant scorpions in both urban and rural areas belonged to Mesobothus eupeus (29%) and they had their most period of activity in June. Considering the different species of the hunted scorpions, it is necessary not only to inform the public but also to educate them on how to take preventive actions against scorpion stinging.