Study on scorpions fauna in high risk area of Hormozgan province, 2006-7

Introduction: Scorpion stinging is one of the most important health problems of Iran especially in tropical southern provinces such as Hormozgan, the southern province of Iran. Hormozgan province usually had the second rank of stinging prevalence in the country with more 10 cases of death annually. Detection of scorpion fauna is a necessary factor to plan an efficient control problem. Methods: The present study was a Cross - Sectional descriptive study which was conducted in 2006-2007 Cluster sampling method was used and the specimens were caught using Black light and daily resting site seeking techniques. Results: A total of 818 specimens were caught from which, 440 (53.8%) were female and 378 (46.2%) were male. Ten species from three families (Buthidae, Scorpionidae and Liochelidae) were found as the fauna and Odontobuthus doriae (Buthidae) with 28.8% (236 specimens) was the dominant species. Parsian district had the highest density of scorpion with 34.3% (281 specimens). The result showed Hemiscorpius lepturus with 21/6% (177 specimens) was the dangerous species which caused death in high risk areas of Hormozgan province. Conclusion: The density of H. lepturus and Androctonus crassicauda was very high in the border of cities, villages and indoor habitats. Scorpio maurus (Scorpionidae) is reported the first time from Hormozgan province. Besides, this is the first report of Hottentotta jayakari (Buthidae) from the northern costal areas of Persian Gulf.