Brigham Young University Brigham Young University

BYU ScholarsArchive BYU ScholarsArchive

Theses and Dissertations

1968-08-01

Scorpions of Utah Scorpions of Utah

John D. Johnson Brigham Young University - Provo

Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Johnson, John D., "Scorpions of Utah" (1968). Theses and Dissertations. 7792. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/7792

This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact scholarsarchive@byu.edu, ellen_amatangelo@byu.edu.

SCORPIONS OF UTAH

· An Abstract of

A Thesis

Presented to the

Department of Zoology and Entomology

Brigham Young University

I n Part i a I Fu I f i I I men t

of the Requirements for the Degree

~laster of Science

By

John D. Johnson

August, 1968

2

ABSTRACT

Scorpions from Utah were collected and studied to deter­

mine species present, geographic distribution, seasonal occur­

rence, sex ratio, and some morphological variations associated

with distribution. Nine species were identified--Anuroctonus

phaeodactylus, Centruroides sculpturatus, Hadrurus ftrizonensis,

!:!.• spadix, Ve,io vis beck i, J_. boreus, J_. confusus, J_. wupat-

k i ens is, and an undescribed species of ..Y..cl_ovis, subgenus Paru­

roctonus. Five species--£. sculpturatus, Ji. arizonensis, J_.

becki, J_. confusus, and J_. wupatkiensis--are reported from

Utah for the first time. �lost specimens were collected from

May through October, with greatest numbers taken in May, June,

and July. Sex ratios differed with the species. Two species-­

A- phaeodactylus and J_. boreus--showed statistically significant

morphological variations in the lengths of �he preabdomens.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LI ST OF TABLES

LI ST OF FI GU RES

W a ■ • • a • ■ • ■ • • • C ■ • · ■ • W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . METHODS ANO PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Anuroctonus phaeodactyl~s (Wood) • . . • •

Centruroides ~culpturatu~ Ewing . . . . . . . Madru~ arizonensis Ewing • . . . . . rladruN1~ §2.ad ix Stahnke . . . . . . . . . . . Ve,jovis becki Gertsch and Al Ired • . . . Ve,i~vis boreus (Girard) . . . . . . . . . . . Ve,iovis confusus Stahnke

Ve,iovis wupatkiensis Stahnke

. . . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . . Vejovis species "W" . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SUMMARY •••••

l I TERA TURE CI TEO

• • • • • • • • • • • • • ■ • • • •

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

... I I I

Page

iv

V

3

6

6

12

I 3

15

15

17 18

26 29

33

35

Table

I •

2.

3.

4. s. 6.

7.

8.

9.

LIST OF TABLES

Collection data for Anuroctonus. phaeodactylus in Utah . • • . . • • . . • . . • • . .

~leasurements of the I engths of the carapace, preabdomen, postabdomen, and telson of Anuroctonus phaeodactylus from northern and southern7Jt"ah, w I th computations of mean and standard error ••••••••

the

Collection datci for fladrurus . . ar I zonens Is In Utah . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . .

Co 11 ect ion data for Hadrurus spadix In Utah

Collect ion data for Vejovis boreus In Utah . Measurements of the lengths of the carapace,

preabdomen, postabdomen, and telson of Vejovis boreus from northern and southern Utah, with computations of the mean and standard error • ............

Collection data for Vejovis confusus In Utah

Collection data for Vcjovis wupatkiensis In Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Co 11 ect ion data for Vejov is species "\'/" 1n Utah . • . . • . . . . . . . . • . . . .

. .

. .

. •

. .

. .

. .

. .

. •

IV

Page

9

10

14

14

19

23 28

30

32

figures

I.

2.

3.

4.

5.

LI ST OF F I G URE S

Distribution of Anuroctonus phaeodactylus, Centruro ides .§.£!:_JI pturatus, and Hadrurus arizonensis in Utah •••••••••

The mean, standard deviation, and range of the lengths of the carapace, preabdomen, postabdomen, and telson of Anuroctonus phaeodactvlus from northern and southern Utah . • • . . . . . • • • • • . . . • • .

Distribution of Hadrurus spadix, becki, and V. boreus in Utah

V_ejov is

The mean, standard deviation, and range of the lengths of the carapace, preabdomen, postabdornen, and te I son of Ve.iov is boreus from northern and southern Utah ••

D i st r i 6 u t i on of Ve, i o v i s con f u s us , Y.... \VuRatkiensis, and Ve.iovis species "W' in Utah •••••••••.•..••

V

Page

8

11

16

24

27

INTRODUCTION

little is known about the scorpion fauna of Utah.

Biologists often see scorpions while collecting 1n desert

areas but even with the many sightings that have been made,

no systematic study has been made of these arthropods in Utah.

Stahnke (1950), Gertsch and Al Ired (1965), Gertsch and Sole-

glad (1966), and Wil Iiams (1966) studied scorpions of the

western United Stat es, but on I y Gertsch and So I eg I ad ( 1966) made a significant contribution to our knowledge of the Utah

fauna. Consequently, the objective of this study is to in-

crease our knowledge of the species of scorpions which occur

in the western United States, primarily in Utah.

The first scorpions collected in the area of the Great

Basin apparently were taken by Stansbury during the late

1840's, but none were named until 1854 (Ewing, 1928). Nothing

more was known of the scorpions of this region until Banks

(1900) I isted a number of species. According to Gertsch and

Soleglad (1966), however, most of Bank's records were of in-

correctly labeled and misidentified specimens from the Marx

collection now in the United States National Museum. After

1900 an increasingly greater interest was shown in scorpions,

but pub I ished information and pertinent co I lecting data for

this area are lacking. Many specimens collected in the Great

Basin have been used for teaching purposes 1n hi~h schools and

2

universities, but the collection data have been lost and the

specimens apparently destroyed.

Scorpions from the Utah portion of the Great Basin were

available from only one institution, Brigham Young University.

These specimens supplement collections made by me, which to-

gether constitute the basis for a listing of the species of

scorpions from Utah, their geographic distribution, seasonal

occurrence, sex ratio, and notes on some morphological varia-

tions associated with distribution.

Grateful acknowledgement is made for the valuable sug-

gestions and help given by Dr. Dorald ~,!. Allred, chairman of

my advisory committee, and Dr. Bertrand F. Harrison, committee

member. Dr. Stanley C. Wi I Iiams, San Francisco State College,

provided help in the verification and/or identification of

some specimens. Financial assistance was provided, 1n part,

by. a Kar I G. Maes er Research Award made to Ors. Dora Id M.

Allred and D Elden Seek by the Alumni Association of Brigham

Young University. The Department of Zoology and Entomology,

Brigham Young University, supplied laboratory space, equipment,

supplies, and some transportation.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Study Area

The study area includes representative collecting sites

within the political boundaries of Utah. This includes the

eastern portion of the Great Basin and the western portion of

the Colorado River Basin. The ecology and topography of these

basins were described by Durrant (1952), Hayward, Beck, and

Tanner (1958), Allred, Beck, and Jorgensen (1963), and Al Ired

(1968) as high, inland plateau regions. These two basins are

separated by ranges of high mountains which begin at the north-

west corner of Wyoming and ~xtend southward approximately two

thirds of the length of Utah, where they bear westward to the

southwest corner of the state. These mountains are among the

highest in Utah with elevations from 9,000 to 12,000 ft •. \vith-

in each basin are lower mountain ranges oriented in a north-

south direction.

Techniques

Scorpions 1n the university collection were collected

principally from under rocks and other ground cover during day-

I ight hours. I used the black I ight (ultraviolet) techn,ique

described by Honetschlager (1965) and collected most of my

specimens at night.

The method of taking measurements for the purpose of

4

comparison and identification generally fol lows the conven-

tional one used by scorpion systematists. The total length

was taken in one measurement from the anterior tip of the

carapace to the posterior tip of the cauda, excluding the tel-

son. The length of the cauda was taken as one measurement

from the anterior tip of the first caudal segment to the pos-

terior tip of the fifth segment, excluding the telson. The

length of the pedipalp was determined by one measurement from

the proximal end of the femur to the distal end of the fixed

finger, excluding the coxa and trochanter. The length of the

chela was taken as one measurement, and is not the sum of the

palm and fixed finger taken separately.

Adult scorpions were identified by use of taxonomic

keys published by Ewing (1928), Comstock (1948), Gertsch and

Allred (1965), Gertsch and Soleglad (1966), and Wi II iams and

Hadley (1967). Keys are not avai !able for the identification

of immature specimens, but most imma-ture scorpions collected

show morphological characteristics which are similar to those

found in adult forms, and thus can be assigned to a species

category.

A mean and standard error (x, s), suggested by Dr.

Clive D. Jorgensen, Department of Zoology and Entomology,

Brigham Young University, were computed to determine signifi-

cant (at 0(=.05) variations between populations of species of

scorpions that range from northern to southern Utah.

The names of all collectors who contributed scorpions

to this study have been abbreviated to the first letter of

5

each name as follows:

BB Bob Bradley HEV H. E. Vokes

BH&K Black, llayward, and King CFS J A Rowe and JAR- • • c. F. Smith BM Bob ~ld,lorr is

JDJ John D. Johnson BRL Boyd R. Lemora

JF J. Finley BW Brad Western

JR J. Rowe CC C. Cottam

LH L. Hook DEB o EI den Beck

MD Mary Dumas DMA Dora I M. A 11 red

MK M. Killpack DU Don Usher

PH Phi 11 Hastings EC E. Cottam

so Susan 01 i ver FC Franz Carnenzind

SCD Swan c. Daines FH f. Harmstrorn

VMT v. M. Tanner GFK G. F. Knowlton

WJG Wi II is J • Gertsch GMH G. M. Harmstrom

\YR \vi I I is Robertson

RESULTS

This study is based on a total of 736 specimens repre-

senting nine species of scorpions collected in Utah. Species

identified are AQuroctonus phaeodactylus, Centruroides sculptu-

ratus, Jiadrurus arizoncnsis, J:!. soadix, Ve,iovis becki, V.

boreus, V. confusus, X ■ wupatkiensis, and a new species of

Vejovis 1n the subgenus Paruroctonus (to be described by

Stanley C. Wil Iiams, San Francisco State College). Scorpions

and their collection data were studied to determine their geo-

graphic distribution, seasonal occurrence, sex ratio, and

morphological variations associated with distribution. These

are discussed under the I is~ings of each species.

Anuroctonus phaeodactylus (Wood)

Centrurus phaeodactylus Wood, 1863, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.

Philadelphia, p. 111; 1863, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci.

Philadelphia, (2)5:372. (Male, "Utah Territory";

evidently in U.S. National Museum)

Anuroctonus £haeodactvlus Pocock, 1902, Bio logia Central i-

Americana, Arachnida, Scorpiones, Pedipalpi and Solfugae,

p. 14, pl. 3, figs. 4-4e, pl. 4, figs. I-le.

Diagnosis. This is a monotypic species. In Utah it is

surpassed in length only by Hadruru~ arizonensis and~- spadix.

It may be distinguished from other species in Utah by its

7

relatively stout appearance, heavy pedipalps bearing short

black fingers, and a bulbous swelling posterior to the vessicle

on the telson in males. In some smaller males the sting re-

sembles that of the female in being drawn out evenly as a

curved spine.

Distribution. Anuroctonus ehaeodactylus ranges in

western Utah from the southern border of Idaho to the northern

border of Arizona. It is a I so knoi~n from sout horn Nevada,

southern California to Baja, California (Gertsch and Al Ired,

1965) Virginia, Colorado, and Guatemala (Pocock, 1902). For

Utah records, refer to Fig. I and Table I.

Remarks. Anuroctonus phaeodactylus Is typically a

burrowing scorpion that seems to exhibit a high degree of

aggregation in that it is not distributed at random, but

occurs in scattered but relatively dense colonies (Wil Iiams,

1966). Forty-seven spec I mens were co I I e cted from the Great

Basin of Utah. None were taken from the Colorado River Basin.

The ratio of males to females collected was 6:1, respectively.

Females were observed at the entrance to their burrows, but

their quick movements made capture difficult.

Specimens from northern Utah were compared with those

from southern Utah to determine morphological variati.ons asso-

ciated with distribution. A mean and standard error (i,s)

were computed for four characters--carapace, preabdomen, post-

abdomcn, and telson (Table 2, Fig. 2). At the 95% level there

was no significant difference between populations in the

0 A. phaeodactylus

~ c. sculpturatus

□ H. ari zonensi s

0

Fig. 1. Distribution of Anuroctonus phaeodactylus, Centruroides sculpturatus, and Hadrurus arizonensis in Utah.

8

Table 1. Collection data for ~-nuronctonus phaeodactylu~ in Utah.

-=~==== ___ ,., __ w, ________ --------County Location

Box Elder Lucin

Iron Cedar City

:Milla,rd Holden

Clear Lake

Tooele Knolls

Utah Provo

Date

VII/ 7/68

VI/ )_1/68

VI/ 1/68

VI/ 3/68

VII/ 5/68

VII/ ?/58

No. and sex Collector

16 m JDJ l f

5 m JDJ

l m JDJ

Ui m 3 f

l m

l m

JDJ

11 VIII/ ?/58 l m

JDJ

D113

DEB

G:MH

DEB

II x/ ?/67 1 ID

Spanish Fork v/ ?/28 1 f

Springville (no date recorded) l m

Washington 10 miles south VI/ 6/68 of Shi vi.•ri ts Indian Reservatj_on on U.S. hwy., 91

==========---------

l m

JF

JDJ

9

10

Table 2. Measurements of the lengths of the carapace, preabdomen,

postabdomen, and telson of Anuroctonus phaeodactylus from northern

and southern Utah, with computations of the mean and standard error.

Northern Utah Southern Utah

Car. Preab. Postab. Tel. Car. Preab. Po stab. Tel.

B.o 16.7 19.3 7.9 8.2 18-.8 20.0 9.o 8.o 15.7 19.9 7.4 8.9 13.7 20.7 7/3 8.2 16.2 20.0 7.5 R.4 19.9 20.6 7.8 7.9 17.7 13.6 7.0 8.1 20.7 20.9 3.o 7.9 13.3 19.5 7.5 7.3 13.9 19o2 7.4

9.1 1.5.9 13.3 . 7 .o 7.8 21.2 19.7 6.9 7.8 1.5.4 18.8 7.5 7.8 18.6 18.J 7.0 7.7 15.4 19.1 7.3 3.3 20.9 20.0 7/3 8.2 17.6 19.2 7.6 7.9 19.7 19.0 7.4 ,7 /3 13.9 18.6 7.3 s.o 21.1 19.4 7.2

8.2 14.2 19.2 7.1 7.3 20.8 18.7 7.0 8.1 16.4 19.3 7.5 8. 2. 20.6 19.2 7.3 7.9 18.0 20.0 7.6 8.3 19.8 19.2 6.8 7.8 15.1 19.0 7.1 8.4 16.0 20.9 7.6 7.5 14.9 18.7 6.8 7.? 18.7 19.7 7.0

8.9 17.0 21.4 8.3 7.3 17.8 13.4 6.9 8.5 13.0 21.7 7.7 3.o 15.5 19.0 7.3 8.8 13.0 21.7 7.9 B.o 17oO 19.l 7.2 8.5 12.9 22.9 8.7 7.9 14.0 19.8 7.6 9.0 14.3 21.0 7.9

Mean 8.14 15.38 19.:31 7.52 8.10 18.51 19.53 7.37 s. E • .:!.:,.19 +.72 +.55 +.21 .:!.:-13 +1.17 +.68 .:!.:•23 ·

11

9.0 21

8.5

i 20

B.o l- 19 s .

s C -r1 7.5 18 ~ s +' s M C C (I) •rl 17 H 7.0

~ +' bD C (l) 16 H North South

Ca1'.'apace 15

14

23 13

22 . s s North South s:::

•rl 21 Preabdomen ~ 9 +' s M 20 s C (l) C H •r-1

~ 8 4 19 +'

M C (I) H 7

North South North South

Postabdomen Telson

Fig. 2. The mean, standard deviation, and range of the lengths of the carapace, preabdomen, postabdo2en, and telson of Anuroctonus Ehaeodactylus from northern and southern Utah.

12

lengths of the car apace, postabdomen, and telson. However, a

significant difference (1.24 mm b et�een populations) is present

in the length s of the preabdomens.

Centruroides sculpturfatus Ewing

Centr uroides sculpturatus Ewing, 1928, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.,

no. 2730, Vol. 73, Art. 9. pp. 20-21. (Adul t and young;

in U. S. National Museum).

Q_iagnosis. Centrurcides sculpturatus 1s a medium-sized

scorpion, comparable in length to Ve.iovis boreus. The base

color is yellow to orang e-brown with complete absence of mark-

ings on the body. It is similar in general appearance to 1 ■

�upatkiensis, but it is much longer and has a wider preabdomen.

The fingers of the c helae are long, but not as narrow and slen-

der as 1• wuoatkiensis. It may be distinguished from other

species in Utah by its re I at i ve I y I on g post abdomen and cl i st i net

tooth at the base o f the vessicle on the telson.

Distribution. Ccntruroides sculpturatus occurs abun­

dant I y throughout southern Arizona (Ewing, 1928), and recent

records have extended its distributions into Puerto Penasco,

Sonora, r.Jexico (\vi 11 iarns and Hadle y, 1967). In Utah, two

females were collected by D Elden Beck from Hole-in-the Rock,

Kane County, May, 1953 (see Fig. I).

Remarks. This 1s the only known record of Centruroides

sculpturatus 1n Utah.

•

13

Hadrurus arizonensis Ewing

Hadrurus hirsutus arizonensis Ewing, 1928, Proc. U.S. Natl.

Mus., 73:8. (female; in U. S. National Museum).

Hadrurus arizonensis Stahnke, 1945, Amer. Mus. Novitates, no.

I 2 9 8 , p • 6 • I 9 5 6 , S co r p i on s •

Diagnosis. The genus Hadrurus contains the largest

Utah scorpions. The two species which occur in Utah, Hadrurus

arizonensis and~- spadix, are similar In length (up to 100

mm in the adult), and both are relatively densely covered with

red bristles. Hadrurus arizonensis may be distinguished from

fi. §padix by its overal I I ighter coloring and the presence of

a yellow interocular space extending from the median eyes to

the anterior edge of the carapace.

Distribution. Hadrurus . . ur I zonens Is 1 s kn 01•.m from

Arizona, southern Nevada, southern California, and southward

into Sonora, Mexico (Gertsch and Al Ired, 1965). For Utah

records refer to Fig. I and Table 3.

Remarks. This is the first time this species has been

reported from Utah. Three specimens were collected from the

Colorado River Basin area of Utah; none were taken from the

Great Basin. ~lorphological variations associated with distri-

bution were not studied due to the small number of specimens

co I I ected.

14

- Table 3. Collection data for Hadrurus ari zonensis in Utah.

County Location Date No. and sex Collector

Garfield Calf Creek XI/ ?/46 1 f ERL

Kane Kanab v/ 6/66 1 m SCD

Washington St. George ?/ ?/20 1 m VMT

Tatile 4. Collection data for Hadrurus spadix in Uta.'1.

County Location Date Noo and sex Collector

Garfield North Wash v/ ?/55 2 m MD

Grand Arches Natl. VITI/ ?/50 1 f DMA Monument

Moab vr/20/68 2 m JDJ

Kane Hole-in-the- V/16/53 1 m DEE Rock

San Juan Navajo Mt. V/ 2/55 2 f DEB Trading Post

II " 1 m BH&K 3 f

Glen Canyon V/17/68 2 f BM

Canyonlands Natl. vr/21/68 1 m JDJ Park (Needles 2 f campground)

Washington Zion Natl. Park VII/ 7/23 1 f VMT

Hadrurus spadix Stahnke

15

Hadrurus spadix Stahnke, 1940, Iowa State Co I I ege Jour. Sci•

15: 102; 1945, Ar.:3r. r.lus. Novitotes, no. 1298, p. 4 ■

(Type "syntypc 0

; in LI. S. National Museum).

Diagnosis. fladrurus spadix is structura I I y s i mi I ar to

fi. arizonensis, and color is the only distinguishing character­

istic. Hadrurus spadix is dark brown, almost black, and lacks

the yellow interocular space described for ft. arizonensis.

Distribution. Hadrurus spadix is known from Nevada,

California; and eastern Oregon (Gertsch and Al Ired, 1965). For

Utah records refer to Fig. 3 and Table 4.

Remarks. Eighteen specimens of lladrur us ;5pc.1d ix adu It

and immature scorpions were collected in the Colorado River

Basin of U tah. Males and females were taken in a ratio of I :I.

Morphological variations associated with distribution were not

studied.

_Ye.io vis beck i Gertsch and A I I red

Ve,iovis becki Gertsch and Allred, 1965, Brigham Young Univ.

Sci. Bui I., Biol. Ser., 5:4:9-11. O,lalc holotype; in

American Museum of Natural History).

Di aqnos is. Ve,iov is beck i c I ose I y resemb I es J.... bore us,

but lacks the characteristic markings and robust, heavily

granulated hands of J.... borcus. The base color is yellow to

a a □ n

a

0 A a

t1

16

H. s2adi~

!• becki

v. boreus

D D

Fig. 3. Distribution of Hadrurus spadix, Vejovis becki, a11d V. boreus in Utah.

orange-brown. It may be distinguished from other species 1n

Utah by the presence of a dusky patch enclosing the median

eyes, which radiates forward almost to the anterior·edge of

the carapace. No other markings are present on the body.

Distribution. Vejovis becki 1s kno\vn from southern

Nevada and adjacent California (Gertsch and Al Ired, 1965).

· In Utah, six males and seven females were taken by me at

St. George, '1vashington County, June 5, 1968 (see Fig. 3).

Remarks. This is the first time Ve,iovis becki has

17

been reported in Utah. Thirteen specimens were collected 1n

the Great Gasin; none were taken from the Colorado River Basin.

~~rphological variations associated with distribution were not

studied.

Ve,iovis boreus (Girard)

Scorpio (Telegonus) borcus Girard, 1854, "in" Marcy, Explora-

tion of the Red River of Louisiana 1n the year 1852, p.

257. (Uncertain sex; evidently in U.S. National

Museum).

Ve.iovis boreus Ewing, 1928, Proc. U. S. Natl. Gius., Vol. 73,

Art. 9, p. 12.

Diagnosis. Ve,iovis boreus is medium-sized, comparable

in length to J!... confusus. It is the fourth largest species 1n

Utah, surpassed in length only by Hadrurus arizonensis, H■

§padix, and Anuroctonus phaeodactylus. It may be distinguished

18

from other species 1n Utah by the characteristic markings on

the carapace and preabdomen, and the robust, coarse I y granu-

1 ated pedipalps. The base color is pale yellow.

Distribution. Ve,iovis boreus is known from California,

Arizona, Colorado, Ayorning, Idaho, Oregon, \Vashing-4:on, Montana,

and North Dakota in the United States, and British Columbia and

Alberta in Canada (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1966). For Utah

records refer to fig. 3 and Table 5.

Remarks. Ve,iov is bore us is the most common and most

widely distributed of al I scorpions in Utah.

in the Great Basin and Colorado River Basin.

It occurs both

In Utah it

ranges from the southern border of Idaho to the northern border

of Arizona. Four hundred and one specimens were taken· in Utah.

Males and females were collected 1n a ratio of 1:1.9, respec-

tively. Specimens from northern Utah were compared with those

from southern Utah to determine mor~hological variations asso-

ciated with distribution. A mean and standard error (-;:z,s) were

computed for four characters--carapace, preabdomen, postabdomen,

and telson (Table 6, Fig. 4). No significant difference at

the 95% level occurred between populations in the length of

the carapace, postabdomen, and telson.

difference (.27 mm between population~,

lengths of the preabdomens.

_Y,_ejovi s confusus Stahnke

However, a significant

is present in the

Ve.iovis confusus Stahnke, 1940, Iowa State College Jour.

19

Table 5. Collection data for Vejovis boreus in Utah.

County Location Date No. and sex Collector '.,, ... -, .- •,H---,;,o,•-•~

Beaver :Milford IV/20/30 1 f VMT

Box Elder Brigh2m City VIII/ ?/28 2 f ·wR

Grouse Creek VI/ ?/28 l f V:MT foothillR

Lucin VI/19/52 2 f DEB

Locomotive Spring;-:: II 1 m DEB

Uta11 hwy. 70 VI/ 7/68 2 m JDJ and Grouse Creek 4 f road

Cache Blacksmith Fork VII/ 9/35 1 f JAR Canyon CFS

Logan VIII/26/36 1 f FH

Daggett Sheep Creek VI/ ?/26 1 f EC

Flaming Gorge VI/28/26 l f EC

Duchesne Roosevelt VII/ 5/68 11 m JDJ 12 f

Emery Ferron IT/ ? /28 2 f vffi.

Buckhorn Canyon IX/ 6/53 4 f VMT

Green River IV/ 7/l.i.6 2 +' GFK .L

I! v/ 7/46 1 f GFK

JI rs/ 6/l:6 1 m HEV 5 r

II VI/18/68 11 m JDJ 13 f

- ..

20

Table 5. (continued)

County Location Date No. and sex Collector

Garfield North Wash V/ ?/55 3 f MD

Grand Arches Natl. 11/12/48 1 f DEB Honument

II V/ 3/68 10 m JDJ 70 f

II VI/20/68 2 m JDJ 20 f

Hoab VII/10/67 1 f DU

Cisco VI/18/68 6 m JDJ 7 f

Castle Valley VI/19/68 11 m JDJ 14 f

Sego IV/28/68 1 f BW

Iron Parowan VIII/Jl/29 1 m VMT

Newcastle VI/ 5/68 4 m JDJ 5 r

Lund II 4 m ,JD,J 5 f

Kane Johnson Canyon VIII/30/53 4 f VHI'

Millard Delta VI/ 2/68 2 m JDJ 9 f

14 miles south VI/ 4/68 3 m JDJ of Deseret 10 f

Piute Kingston VI/25/52 1 m DEB 1 f

Salt Lake Salt Lake VI/22/30 1 m JR 2 f

San Juan Navajo Mt. Trading V/ 5/55 l m BE&K Post 1 f

Table 5. (continued)

County Location Date

San Juan Canyonlands Natl. VI/22/68 Park (Needles

Sevier

Tooele

Uinta

Utah

campground)

Hatch Trading Post

Richfield

II

Sevier Canyon

2 miles east of Glenwood

Fishlake

VI/23/68

VI/19/47

V/15/40

VII/19/40

VI/J0/40

VI/22/JO

Paradise Valley VIII/10/52

Skull Valley IV/19/39

Desert Range IX/ 9/50 Experiment Station

Knolls VII/ 5/68

Delle It

Dinasaur Natl. V/21/50 Monument (Quary)

II VII/ 6/68

Provo

Washington St. George

IX/ ?/28

III/19/Jl

Watercress III/29 /31 Springs (St. George)

Zion Natl. Park VI/ 9/68

No. and sex Collector

3 m 18 f

1 f

1 f

1 m 5 r 1 f

1 f

l m

1 f

1 f

2 f

1 m 9 f

6 m 9 f

2 f

19 m 26 f

1 m

1 m 1 f

2 f

3 f

JDJ

JDJ

DEB

WJG

WJG

WJG LH

WJG

MK

GFK

DEB

JDJ

JDJ

VMT

JDJ

V.MT

vnr

VMl'

JDJ

21

22

Table 5. (continued)

County Location Date No. and sex Collector

Wayne Fruita VII/17/31 2 f WJG

Torrey VI/17/38 3 f DEB VHI'

II VIII/ 7/52 1 f HK

23

Table 6. Measurements of the len~ths of the carapace, preabdomen,

postabri omen, and telson of Vejovis boreus from northern and southern

Utah, with computations of the mean and standard error.

Northern Utah Southern Utah

Car. Preab. Postab. Tel. Car. Prea.b. Postab. Tel.

4.9· 16.4 13.o 6.o 5.o 15.1 19.2 6.0 4.9 14.5 16.9 5.6 5.3 16.2 19.7 6.o 6.o 17.0 23.3 7.0 5.7 ll.3 21. 2 6.2 4.6 13.9 14.5 4.7 5.6 12.9 20.0 6.9 5.5 17.7 20.0 6.1 5.6 7.8 19.0 6.1

6.o , 19.1 21.9 6.9 6.4 12.7 24.0 7.5 6.4 19.4 21.4 6.8 5.9 10.6 22.5 6.7 5.5 13.3 19.0 6.o 5.3 13.3 21.5 6.3 5.3 15~5 21.3 6.o 5.7 15.3 21.3 6.3 5.,3 13.0 19.5 6.1 5.7 13.2 22.8 6.7

5.8 15~2 20.6 6.4 5.2 13.0 19.2 6.o 5.7 19.0 20.5 6.o 5.2 13.0 19.4 5.9 4.9 13.3 18.2 5.7 4.5 11.2 17.8 5.2 5.3 13~5 19.9 6.4 5.3 15.o 21.4 6.3 5.4 15.o 19.0 5.8 4.9 14.6 19.0 5.7 6.o' 15.6 21.0 6.9 4.9 12.3 13.5 5.7 5.7 17.9 19~3 6.2 4.3 14.5 16.9 5.2 5.o 12.0 16."9 5.3 6.7 1.3.9 22;3 6.9 5~6 16.~ 19.3 6.2 6.7 12.6 22.6 6.6 6.4 17.7 23.0 7.3 5.3 15.9 20.0 6.1

Mean 5.53 15.34 19.63 6.17 5.51 13.50 20.47 6.22 s. E.+.26 .:!:,-99 +.97 +.28 +.27 +l.03 +.87 +.26

7 19

s s C!

~ 18 •rl

..c: 6

.µ b.O ·r C! 0,2 17 H 5

16 .J North South

Carapace 15

s 14 s C!

•rl

..c: 13 +' t,.Q C! (l) H 12

11

7 10 s s c:: •rl 6 9 ..c:: .µ tlO c:: .s 5 8

North South North South

. Telson Preabdomen

Fig. 4. The mean, standard deviation, and range of the lengths of the carapace, preabdomen, postabdomen, and te1son of Vej_ovis £~!'= from northern and southern Utah.

24

'Fig. 4. ( continued)

24

23

22

21

20

19

18

17

16

15

25

North South

Postabdomen

26

Sci., 15: I 01. (Syntypes; in Arizona State University

Co. I I ect ion).

Diaonosis. Vejovi~ confusus closely resembles;!_. wupat-

kiensis in general appearance, but J... confusus ts slightly larger

and is I ightcr in color. Ve,iovis confusus may be distinguished

from other species in Utah by the lack of definite markings on

the body, a relatively thick fifth caudal segment, relatively

long pincers on the pedipalps, and a coarsely granulated, robust

telson bearing a short sting.

Distribution. _Yc.jovi.s confusus 1s kno\vn from southern

Nevada (Gertsch and Allred, 1965) and southern Ca! ifornia

(Wi 11 iams and Hadley, 1967). For Utah records refer to Fig. 5

and Tab I e 7.

Remarks. This is the first time Ve,iovis confusu~ has

been reported from Utah. Twenty-three specimens representing

adult and immature scorpions were c~I lectcd from localities in

the Great Basin and Colorado River Basin. ~-lales and females

were taken in a ratio o-f I :3.6, respcctivcl)'• Ve,iovis confusus

ranges from the southern border of Idaho to the northern border

of Arizona. Morphological variations were not studied due to

the small number of specimens collected.

Ve,iovis i-.,upatkiensis Stahnke

Ve iovis Wllpatkiensis Stahnke, 1940, Iowa State College Jour.

Sci., 15:101. (r.lale and female syntypes; in Arizona

State University Col lcction).

0

0 0

0

O V. confusus

A V. wupatkiensis

[] V. species 11W11

A

c□

27

Fj £1:. S. Distribution of Vejovis confusus, V. wuoatkiensis, and Vejovis species 11W11 in Utah.

Table 7. Collection data for Vejovis confusus in Utah.

County Location

Box Elder Ludn

Grand Arches Natl.

Millard

Monument

Holden

Clear Lake

Date

VII/ 7/68

vr/20/68

VI/ 1/68

·vi/ 3/68

San Juan Canyonlands Natl. VI/22/68 Park (Tower Ruins)

MonumPnt Valley

Utah Orem

Washington St. George

VJ/24/68

v/20/68

VI/ 5/68

No. and sex Collector

2 f JDJ

1 m (Rangers)

4 r 3 m 5 r 1 m 4 r 1 f

1 f

1 f

JDJ

JDJ

JDJ

JDJ

so

JDJ

28

29

Diagnosis. Jejovis wupatkiensis is a relatively smal I,

slender scorpion similar in appearance to X. confusus. However

X■ wupatkiensis is smaller and lacks the coarse granulation of

the cauda and te I son common to X ■ confusus. It may be distin-

guished from other species in Utah by its uniform yellow to

orange-brown color, the absence of any markings on the body,

very long fingers on the pedipalps, and a tubercle or tooth

beneath the base of the vessicle on the telson.

Distribution. Ve.iovis wupatkiensis is known from

northern Arizona westward to Nevada and adjacent California

(Gertsch and Allred, 1965). For Utah records refer to Fig. 5

and Tab I e 8.

Remarks. This is the first time Vejovis \\IUpatkiensis

has been reported in Utah. Eleven females were taken from the

Colorado River Basin in Utah. None were co I lected in the Great

Basin. Morphological variations associated with distribution

were not studied.

Ve,iovis species "\v''

Dia~nosis. This apparently is a new species of Ye,iovis

1n the subgenus Paruroctonus. It closely resembles J_. boreus,

but may be distinguished from that species by the absence of

the dusky, transverse bands on the segments of the pr~abdomen,

and the s1 ightly longer, less robust hands of the Pedipalps ..

I

30

Table 8. Collection data for Vejovis wupatkiensis in Utah.

County Locat:i.on Date No. and sex Collector

Grand Moab VI/ ?/23 2 f cc II V/ ?/55 5 f BH&.K

Thompson . V/ 3/68 1 f FC

San Juan Navajo Mt. V/ 2/55 2 f DEB Trading Post

Canyonlands Natl. VI/ ?/67 1 f PH Park (Tower Ruins)

31

Distribution. This species 1s known from Bluff, San

Juan County, Utah (Wi 11 i ams, 1968). For further Utah records,

refer to Fig. 5 and Table 9.

Remarks. T~-10 hundred and e i ght een specimens represent-

ing adult and immature scorpions were taken from the Colorado

River Basin in Utah. None were co I I ected in the Great Basin.

Wi I Iiams (1968) indicated that a new species had been

collected by him in 1967 from localities around Bluff, Utah.

Specimens co 11 ected by me in the same genera I area did not

fit existing keys. I concluded that it must be the sarne

species collected by Dr. Wil Iiams. Inasmuch as Dr. Wil Iiams

is not presently avai I able to study these specimens and the

description of his new species has not yet been published,

was unable to verify these identifications.

32

Table 9. Collection data for Vejovis species 'W" in Utah.

=========-=-===::::::==:::::::-:=::::::::::::::::::::::::==============:.:::::::==..:....:..:.=::::,-:::·· :::::.:.=:::::::::::::::=

County Location Date

Garfield ,'<5 miles west of VI/25/68 Dirty Devil River

Grand

on UtaJ1 hwy. 95

Dead Horse Pt. road

VI/19/68

Emery JO miles north VI/25/68 of Hanksville on Uta.1-i h1,ry. 24

San Juan Monument Valley VI/2)J68

Bluff VI/23/68

Canyonlands Natl. vr/20/68 Park (Needles campground)

tr VI/10/68

No. and sex Collector

5 f

25 f

2 f

56 f

26 f

50 f

54 f

JDJ

JDJ

JDJ

JDJ

JDJ

JDJ

BB

Scorpions from Utah were collected and studied to

determine species present, geographic distribution, seasonal

occurrence, sex ratio, and some morphological variations

associated with distribution. Only one institution in the

study area possessed scorpions available for study 1n addi-

tion to those taken by me. Therefore, the listing of species

present may not be complete for Utah because of the I imited

amount of collecting done.

A total of 736 scorpions, representing nine species,

were collected 1n Utah and are I isted in diminising order of

their abundance in my collection--Vejovis boreus, _Ye,iovis

species"~", Anuroctonus phaeodactylus, 1 ■ confusus, Hadrurus

_spadix, 1• becki, J_. wupatkiensis, J:!. arizonensis, and Centru-

roides sculQturatus. Centruroides sculpturatus, J:!. arizonensis,

1■ becki, 1■ confusus, and 1 ■ wupatkiensis are reported from

Utah for the first time.

Ve,iovis boreus is the most comr.ion and most widely distri-

buted of the Utah scorpions collected by me. Ve,iovis boreus

and 1■ confusus are found in both the Great Basin and Colorado

River Basin. Centruroides sculpturatus, Hadrurus arizonensis,

Ji. spa_dix, y_. wunatkiensis, and .Y.e.iovis species "V.J" have

distributions in the Colorado River Basin, whereas Anuroctonus

phaeodactylus and 1- becki are confined to the Great Basin.

Anuroctonus J?haeodacty I us, J... boreus, and J... confusus range

from the southern border of Idaho to the northern border of

Arizona.

34

Both males and females were taken from May through

October, with greatest numbers taken in May, June, and July.

Females were taken in greater numbers than were males. This

may be related to mating habits during the collecting periods.

Morphological variations associated with distribution

were distinguishable 1n two of the species col lected--An~-

tonus ehaeodacty I us and Ve,iov is boreus. A mean and standard

error (~ 1 s) were computed for four characters (carapace, pre-

abdomcn, postabdomen, and telson) on these two species. Other

species represented in this study were either I imited 1n their

distributions or collected in insufficient numbers to make a

val id statistical comparison. Populations from northern Utah

were. compared with those from southern Utah to determine

morphological variations. Analysis·of the duta showed no

significant morphological variations between the carapace,

postabdomen, and te I son at the 95% I eve I • llo\vever, a difference

does exist in the sizes of the preabdomens of the two popula-

ticns. Inasmuch as the means for the carapace, postabdomen,

and telson are not significantly different between the northern

and southern populations, it is assumed that they are of the

same species.

LI TERA TUR E CIT ED

Allred, D. M. 1968. Ticks of the National Reactor Testing Sta­

tion. Brigham Young Univ. Sci. Bull., Biol. Ser.,

10(1):1-29.

Allred, D. �l., Beck, D. E., and C. D. Jorgensen. 1963.

Biotic communities of the Nevada Test Site. Brigham

Young Univ. Sci. Bull., Biol. Ser., 11(2):1-52.

Ban ks, N. 1900. Synopsis of North-Arner i can in vertebrates.

The scorpions, solpugids, and pedipalpi. Amer. Nat.,

34(9):421-427.

Comstock, J. H. 1948. The Spider Book. Revised and edited

by W. J. Gertsch. Comstock Publishing Co., Inc., New

York.

Durrant, S. D. 1952. �'ammals of Utah, taxonomy and distribu­

tion. Univ. Kansas Pub., 1\lus. Nat. Hist., 6:1-549.

Ewing, ff. E. 1928. The scorpions of the \-.'es tern part of the

United States, with notes on those occursng in northern

Mexico. Proc. U. S. Nat. 1\lus., 73(9): 1-26.

Gertsch, \v. J., and D. M. A I I red.· 1965. Scorpions of the

Nevada Test Site. Brigham Young Univ. Sci. Bull., Biol.

Ser., 6(4):1-15.

Gertsch, \I. J., and M. Soleglad. 1966. The scorpions of the

,Ve,i_ovis bo� group (subgenus Paruroctonus) in north

America (Scorpionida, Vejovidae). Amer. Mus. Novitates,

2278:1-54.

- . ·---------

36

Hayward, C. L., Beck, D. E., and W.W. Tanner. 1958. Zoology

of the Upper Colorado River Gasin. Brigham Young Univ.·

Sci. Bu I I • , Bi o I • Ser. , I ( 3) I I - 7 4.

Honetschlagcr, L. D. 1965. A new method for hunting scor-

pions. Turtox News, 43(2):69-70.

Pocock, R. L. 1902. Scorpiones, Pedipalpi and Solfugae.

Biologia Centrali Americana, 71:12.

Stahnke, H. L. 1940. The Scorpions of Arizona. Iowa State

College J. Sci., 15:101-103.

Wi I Iiams, S. C. 1966. Burrowing activities of the scorpion

Anuroctonus ehaeodactylus (Wood) (Scorpionida:

Vejovidae). Proc. California Acad. Sci., Fourth Ser.,

34(8):419-428. Williams, S. C. 1968. Personal correspondence.

Williams, S. C., and N. F. Hadley. 1967. Scorpions of the

Puerto Penasco area (Chol la Bay), Sonora, Mexico, with

description of Ve.iovis baerg(, ne~v species. Proc.

California Acad. Sci., Fourth Ser., 35(5): 103-116.