Diversidade e distribuição das espécies de escorpiões (Arachnida : Scorpiones) de Cuiabá e Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso, Brasil

Abstract

Accidents by scorpions have increased significantly in the last decade in the state of Mato Grosso, but there are no formal publications on which species occur in different municipalities and how they are distributed in the landscape. With the objective of identifying the diversity and distribution of scorpions in the Cuiabá – Várzea Grande conurbation, I carried out an inventory of the species that occur in the urban and periurban areas of these two municipalities and identified characteristics of the places of occurrence that can influence the pattern of species distribution. The study was based on secondary data, mainly specimens sent to the Municipal Health Departments of the two cities and data obtained through "citizen science", from the dissemination of a banner on social media with information about the study and contact for referral of photos or samples. Records associated with at least one specimen or image with sufficient clarity to identify the species were georeferenced and spread out. I analyzed the richness, abundance and seasonality of scorpions records, as well as their occurrence by neighborhoods and census sectors. In a buffer of 100 m radius around the point of each occurrence, I evaluated the proportion of four categories of land use and occupation: wooded areas, built-up areas, land and backyards, streets and avenues. I also evaluated the minimum distance to the closest natural body of water to each occurrence point. To assess whether the results obtained from the buffers can be extrapolated to larger administrative areas, I analyzed the level of urbanization (demographic density and level of pavement) in the census sectors that include each buffer. During the study, I recorded 128 individuals of five species, all belonging to the Buthidae family: Ananteris balzanii (n=12; 9.3%), Tityus carvalhoi (n=10; 7.8%), T. confluens (n=100 ; 78.1%), T. mattogrossensis (n=1; 0.7%) and T. serrulatus (n=5; 4%). The highest number of records coincided with the end of the rainy season, in April. Among the three species recorded in more than one point of occurrence, A. balzanii occurred in points with higher averages of "wooded areas" (33%), T. carvalhoi occurred in areas with higher averages of "land and backyards" (29% ) and T. confluens occurred in areas with the highest averages of “built-up areas” (41%). Census sectors where the presence of A. balzanii was recorded had a lower average population density and a lower average of households with paving on their face, while the census tracts with the presence of T. confluens had a higher average population density and a greater number of households with paving in your face. The results suggest that A. balzanii and T. Carvalhoi occur in less urbanized areas, with a greater presence of vegetation, while Tityus confluens occurs in places with a higher proportion of built-up areas and higher averages of population density and degree of paving, which shows their ability to colonize urban environments. The record of Tityus serrulatus¸ a species of medical interest and causing serious accidents, represents an unprecedented occurrence, with accurate data, for the state of Mato Grosso. The abundance of T. confluens and the presence of T. serrulatus in the study area highlight the need for actions to combat the proliferation of these species and to prevent accidents. I hope that the results obtained can support public policies aimed at reducing the number of accidents by scorpionism in the study area, where there are knowledge gaps on the subject, in addition to providing information that can help in the preservation of the species.