Home range geometry of the desert scorpion Paruroctonus mesaensis

The home range of the desert scorpion Paruroctonus mesaensis is analyzed using techniques of Ford & Krumme (1979). Possible factors influencing home range geomtry of P. mesaensis include prey distribution, prey abundance and renewal, energy requirements, risk of predation and body size. There are differences in home range size among the three year classes with the youngest year class maintaining a significantly smaller home range. Home ranges of each year class are approximately circular indicating that these scorpions are remarkably symmetric in the directional use of space around their burrow. The majority of surface activity occurs within 1.0 m from the burrow for all ages. These patterns along with equal probabilities of prey capture at all distances from the burrow suggest that scorpions do not deplete prey within their home ranges.