Scorpion fauna of the island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: first record of Tityus stigmurus (Thorell 1877) (Arachnida, Buthidae)

Abstract

A survey of the scorpion fauna of the Island of Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco (Brazil), was carried out in October 2005. Methods included active collecting and pitfall traps in several areas of the island under different degrees of human-caused alteration. Forty four scorpions, belonging to two species were collected: Isometrus maculatus (DeGeer, 1778), previously listed for the Island, and Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1877), here recorded for the first time. This species was probably introduced via cargo shipments from the continent and offers risk to the local population due to the gravity of the accidents.