Boreus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Boreus: /ˈbɔːriəs/

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Summary

Paruroctonus boreus, also known as the northern scorpion, is the only scorpion found in Canada and has a wide distribution across North America. They are nocturnal and have a unique mating behavior.

Physical Characteristics

Moderately sized; common light yellow color; black V-pattern on median eyes; dim streaks across preabdomen divisions. Females are larger than males with longer and wider carapace, pectinal teeth fewer in females. Average length: females ~38.9 mm, males ~35.5 mm.

Identification Tips

Distinguished by color, size, and sexual dimorphism in size and pectinal tooth count. Males have a blunt rounded abdominal tip, females have a straight ovipositor as long as the rostrum.

Habitat

Inhabits various terrains typically bordered by tall mountains or low elevation valleys; prefers sagebrush in northern areas; often found on barren, rocky soil; nests in openings in soil and stones.

Distribution

Found across broad areas of North America, in the U.S. (Arizona, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming) and in Canada (British Columbia, Alberta).

Diet

Juvenile scorpions eat the membrane they exit after birth and exoskeletons; adults prey on grasshoppers, pentatomids, spiders, and other scorpions.

Life Cycle

Scorpions are nocturnal and emerge from burrows between 21:30 and 23:00; engage in territorial fights; offspring free themselves from the birth membrane within 10-20 minutes.

Reproduction

Females give birth to 10 to 40 young; offspring stay on the mother's back post-birth until their first molt in about 12 days.

Predators

Younger scorpions are more likely to use stingers for defense; prey includes grasshoppers and other scorpions.

Ecosystem Role

Predatory role in their habitat, feeding on various insects and arachnids.

Collecting Methods

• Hand collection
• Pitfall traps
• Brush sampling

Preservation Methods

• Ethanol preservation
• Drying and pinning
• Freezing

Evolution

Genus name Paruroctonus means 'like uroctonus'; species name boreus refers to its northern distribution.

Tags

• Scorpion
• Paruroctonus boreus
• Northern scorpion
• Mecoptera
• Arthropoda