Table Of ContentBULLETrN 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
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andises ou des bagages, en provenance de leur aire de
Eusc01piusjlavicaudis. Bull. Br. arachnol. Soc., 9 (5): 13 7-141.
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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
