Novruzov N.E. 2020. [Locomotory activity and homing of Mesobuthus eupeus (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Arachnida: Scorpiones: Buthidae)] // Invertebrate Zoology. Vol.17. No.1: 59–70 [in Russian, with English summary].
Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Baku, AZ 1073, Azerbaijan. E-mail: niznovzoo@mail.ru
doi: 10.15298/invertzool.17.1.06
ABSTRACT: The locomotory activity and homing of the mottled scorpion (Mesobuthus eupeus) were studied under natural conditions. Individual observations of nocturnal movements of scorpion of different age and sex groups were carried out. Males traveled to a greater distance from constantly used shelters than females. Among scorpions who returned after night marches to their shelters, were individuals of preimaginal and imaginal age, with the predominance of the latter. We compared homing between scorpions that were arbitrarily leaving their shelters and individuals caught and released at different distances from the places of capture. Scorpions arbitrarily leaving their shelters found their way back to the house in a shorter time and with fewer errors. Individuals, which were artificially released at different distances from the places of capture, made more mistakes, the number of which increased with the range of release. The fact of greater success of homing in scorpions of the first group indicates their better orientation on the terrain when it is repeated, probably due to the recognition of the texture of the soil surface or their own trace marks.
KEY WORDS: mottled scorpion, behavior, trace marks, the texture of the surface of soil, capture, release.