干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Scorpions have many life history traits, such as a long juvenile period, viviparity, long gestation times, iteroparity, and parental care, which are uncommon in terrestrial invertebrates. Despite this, Life history information is lacking for most species. We present data on reproductive investment in Diplocentrus linda Stockwell and Vaejovis waueri Gertsch & Soleglad from a site on the northeastern edge of the Chihuahuan desert in west Texas. Both species have slightly smaller litters and shorter Ist-instar durations than are average for the respective families, and they undergo parturition at times similar to confamiliars from North America. For both D. linda and V. waueri, as reproductive investment (as estimated by total litter mass) increased, females produced more offspring. Additionally, V. waueri females producing larger off spring produced offspring more uniform in size.