Observations on the life history of the scorpion Urodacus abruptus (Scorpionidae), and the analysis of its home sites

Abstract

The life history of the scorpion was worked out for a discrete population on Black Mountain near Canberra, A.C.T. The biology was unusual because of an unexpected longevity and a highly imbalanced adult sex ratio. A clear selection of favoured home sites was demonstrated, but it was also shown that availability of food limited the population before all potential home sites were occupied. A mechanism of numerical stabilization dependent on the regulation of recruitment is discussed.