Record of Ananteris mauryi (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Preyed Upon by Ectatomma planidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

Abstract

Scorpions feed on diverse prey types but are also preyed upon by larger predators. Hunting and defensive strategies can also influence predation success of animals. Ananteris mauryi Lourenco, 1982 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), a relatively small-sized scorpion and an active forager in leaf litter, is frequently preyed on by another scorpion species, Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. Here, we report the predation of A. mauryi by the predatory ant Ectatomma planidens Borgmeier, 1939 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a tropical rainforest. During a nocturnal active collection of scorpions, an ant (10 mm) was observed biting the prosoma of a scorpion (16 mm) and carrying it posteriorly while moving backwards. This record confirms that a smaller predator is able to prey upon a larger scorpion. We discuss herein the efficiency of Ectatomma species to prey on dangerous predators. In addition, this is the first report of E. planidens in the Pernambuco state, Brazil.