Report of intraguild predation of the scorpion Physoctonus debilis (C. L. Koch, 1840) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) by the assassin bug Microtomus tibialis Stichel, 1926 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Abstract

Scorpions and assassin bugs are arthropod predators that may impact in trophic chain, coexisting in similar microhabitats and exhibiting antagonistic interactions. This study reports the first case of predation of the scorpion Physoctonus debilis by the assassin bug Microtomus tibialis in a Brazilian Seasonal Dry Tropical Forest biome. During a nocturnal collection, an adult individual of M. tibialis was observed, with the head and body facing downwards, while holding a female of P. debilis, with the aid of the mouthparts under the vegetation. Reports like these are important to understand the evolutionary dynamics and natural history of predators that cohabit in the same microhabitat.