Трансформация экосистем Ecosystem Transformation www.ecosysttrans.com On the fauna of false scorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) of south-eastern Belarus Artiom M. Ostrovsky Gomel State Medical University, ul. Lange 5, Gomel, Gomel Region, 246000 Republic of Belarus [email protected] Received: 12.03.2020 Seven species of the false scorpions have been found in the Accepted: 24.03.2020 south-eastern Belarus during targeted studies in 2017–2019. Syl- Published online: 23.04.2020 vatic forms represent a significant part of species diversity of the regional fauna of the false scorpions. Only one species, Chelifer DOI: 10.23859/estr-200312 cancroides (Linnaeus, 1761), occurs in synanthropic habitats. UDC 595.47 (476.2) ISSN 2619-094X Print Keywords: false scorpions, pseudoscorpiones, species diversity, ISSN 2619-0931 Online biotopic allocation, distribution, morphology, synonymy. Translated by D.M. Martynova Ostrovsky, A.M., 2020. On the fauna of false scorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) of south-eastern Belarus. Ecosystem Transformation 3 (2), 11–21. Introduction the global fauna of the false scorpions has been The study of the biodiversity is among the studied extremely unevenly. For example, in Europe, emerging issues of modern zoological science. the species composition of the false scorpions is False scorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpio- considered relatively well known for a few countries nes) is one of the oldest arachnid orders, their only, namely, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, representatives are characterized by small body sizes Italy, and some others; a total of 787 species were (2–3 mm, on average) and large pedipalps ending with recorded (Harvey, 2015). Alongside with that, there strong claws, which serve to capture the prey. They are regions where the fauna of the false scorpions has are found on all continents (except Antarctica) and are either not been studied at all, or only scarce data on especially numerous in the tropics. False scorpions their species composition and distribution have been are quite widespread, but are mostly invisible for published. Therefore, the knowledge on many species humans, because they lead a hidden predatory is very limited. This is especially true in Republic lifestyle in moss, litter, under stones and lagging bark, of Belarus, where the order Pseudoscorpiones has in anthills, bee hives, burrows and nests of mammals almost never been studied. For example, according and birds, as well as caves, human dwellings, and to L.D. Burko and I.K. Lopatin (2001), there are only livestock premises (Jones, 1970; Lange, 1984; Shear two species (a maximum of three: O.I. Borodin, pers. et al., 1989; Shear, 1991; Weygoldt, 1969; Witt and comm.) registered in the local fauna out of several Dill, 1996). Since false scorpions have a limited ability dozen species likely to be found. However, these for re-settling, they have historically developed the studies are based on random collections and do not phenomenon of phoresis, or passive settlement on represent a big picture of the species composition the body of animal hosts from different systematic and distribution of this arachnid group in the Republic groups (Kaisila, 1949). This behavior arose very early of Belarus. For comparison, 14 species are known for during the evolution of this group and is known from the neighboring Baltic countries, 47 for Poland, and Cretaceous amber (Schawaller, 1991). 26 species for Ukraine (Harvey, 2013); in the Russian Currently, over 3500 species of the false Federation, 44 to 48 species of the false scorpions scorpions are known, combined in 446 genera that have been recorded according to different literature belong to 26 families (Harvey, 2013). Meantime, sources (Krajčovičová et al., 2018; Mikhailov, 2016). 12 Ostrovsky, A.M., 2020. Ecosystem Transformation 3 (2), 11–21. The study aims to describe the fauna of the false Panctenodactyli: Balzan, 1891 (part.), auct. scorpions and their biotopic allocation in the south- Monosphyronida (part.): Chamberlin, 1929 eastern part of Republic of Belarus. Superfamily Cheliferoidea Risso, 1826 Materials and Methods Cheliferides: Stecker, 1875 (Cheliferinae part.), The material for the study was the author’s own Beier, 1932 collections sampled during the period of 2017–2019 and carried out manually in various biocenoses in the Family Cheliferidae Risso, 1826 south-eastern part of Republic of Belarus. The surveys Cheliferidae: Stecker, 1875, Hagen, 1879, part., were performed by the direct method: in the wild, the E. Simon, 1879, part. plant debris, the areas under the bark, rotten wood, and litter were inspected, as well as the anthills have Flagellum consists of as few as three bristles. been sieved; in the anthropogenic environment, the Males have paired cylindrical sacs; both segments areas under household and construction waste, bird of the femur of the first pair of legs are separated by droppings, and residential premises were checked. a nearly vertical gap; abdominal sternites in males In total, 62 specimens of the false scorpions without margins, with sensitive setae. The poisonous were collected and determined over the study apparatus is developed equally in the movable and non- period. The species determining was carried out movable fingers of the pedipalp; additional cloves are according to the taxonomic keys developed for never developed. All legs with single-segmented tarsi. Europe (Christophoryová et al., 2011; Legg and The articulation of the femur of both front legs differs Jones, 1988; Stol, 2005; Tooren, 2005) and to the significantly from that of the hind legs (heterofemorate study by S. Dashdamirov and V. Schawaller (1992). articulation) (Dashdamirov and Schawaller, 1992). Information on the geographical distribution and origin of species is given according to several reports Subfamily Cheliferinae Risso 1826 (Harvey, 2013, 2015; Rafalski, 1967; Sammet et al., Cheliferinae: Stecker, 1875, part., E. Simon, 1879, part. 2016). The taxonomy and nomenclature are given according to the catalogue of M.S. Harvey (Harvey, Genus Chelifer E.L. Geoffroy, 1762 2013). The material is stored in 70% ethanol in the Chelifer cancroides (Linnaeus, 1761) author’s collection. Acarus cancroides: Linnaeus, 1761 Chelifer cancroides: + ?C. rhododactylus Menge, 1855 Results and Discussion Cheilfer granulatus: C.L. Koch, 1843, L. Koch, 1873, The false scorpions collected in various Kulczyński, 1876 biocenoses of the south-eastern part of Republic of Chelifer ixoides: Lebert, 1875 Belarus are represented by seven species belonging Chelifer serratus: Stecker, 1874 to the two families: Cheliferidae (3 species) and Chelifer cancroides: Lehnert, 1933, Rafalski, 1953, Chernetidae (4 species). Rolnik et Szmidt, 1959 Most of the false scorpions are typical inhabitants of the sylvatic environment, except only one species, The body is 3–4-mm long, elongated-oval, very Chelifer cancroides (Fig. 1), which is synanthropic one. flattened, the color is variable, yellowish-brown of The morphological descriptions of the species different saturation degree, cuticle is finely granulated found, as well as data on their ecology and distribu- (Fig. 1). The sides of the thorax in their anterior halves tion are given below. with spiky tubercles, matte; the bristles are clavate. Cephalothorax slightly elongated; both its grooves are Class Arachnida – ARACHNIDA CUVIER, 1812 clearly expressed, straight; the first groove locates in Order Pseudoscorpions – PSEUDOSCORPIONES the middle of the cephalothorax, the second one is DE GEER, 1778 much closer to the posterior end of the body than to Pseudoscorpionidea: Claus, 1872 the first groove. Two clearly seen eyes in front of the Pseudoscorpiones: Latreille, 1804 thorax, on the sides of latter. Ridge locates along the Chelifera: Jarocki, 1825 moving finger of the chelicer and carries 18 cloves. Chernetidae: Menge, 1855 Chelicera with 4 setae (seta sb is absent). Flagellum Didactyla: Nowicki, 1874 consists of 3 bristles, the front bristle is notched. Chernetidae: Kulczyński, 1876 Pedipalps are 1.5 times longer than body, slender; Chelonethi: Thorell, 1882 trochanter elongated; femur is slightly widened to the Chelonethida: Chamberlin, 1929 apex and joints an unclearly expressed stalk, the femur Pseudoscorpionidea: Beier, 1932, 1963 surface is finely granulated; tibia slightly shorter than femur, markedly widened to apex; the arm is oblong- Suborder Iocheirata Harvey, 1992 oval, slightly wider than the tarsus, tapering smoothly Cheliferinea: Beier, 1932 to the slightly curved fingers, the length of latter is Ostrovsky, A.M., 2020. Ecosystem Transformation 3 (2), 11–21. 13 parent substance. Eggs remain on the female abdo- men until the juveniles hatch. Within the present study, C. cancroides has been found in the book deposito- ry of the Gomel Regional Universal Library named after V.I. Lenin (in the early 2000s) (N 52°25’53.3”, E 31°0’0.5”) and among the household garbage and bird droppings in an abandoned water tower in vicinity of the urban village of Uvarovichi, Buda-Koshelevsky District (May 23, 2019) (N 52°36’18”, E 30°44’54”). In the synanthropic environment, it preys mainly on the booklice (for example, on grain psocid Liposcelis spp. and larger pale booklouse Trogium pulsatorium (Lin- naeus, 1758)), but can also feed on cereal mites, bed bugs, and also small larvae of beetles; in xylophilic communities, it predates on the larvae of bark beetles and sawyer beetles. Passive resettlement (phoresis) was observed for genus Coeloides (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)