Central and Northern Arizona 5–7 October 2007

Central and Northern Arizona5–7 October 2007

We traveled approximately 1,200 miles and collected over 50 specimens representing five species in three genera. We searched various biotic communities around Arizona sampling lower Colorado Plateau desert, Sonoran Desert, Arizona Upland/Sonoran chaparral, Madrean Evergreen Woodland, and Petran Montane Conifer Forest.

Participants:Zachary J.

Valois Kelsey A. Neeley

Near McGuireville,Yavapai County, ArizonaVaejovis spinigerus habitat. A proliferation of smoketreeand limestone, with a few creosote and Ephedra.

Vaejovis spinigerus and habitat near Camp Verde.

Late at night we decided to camp along an obscure forest road.Early that next morning we found an interesting species of Aphonopelma similar to A. behlei.

Payson, Gila County. Habitat of Vaejovis spinigerus and Vaejovis paysonensis.

Habitat of Vaejovis spinigerus and unidentified dwarf Aphonopelma species.

Vaejovis spinigerus females

Immature male V. spinigerus and its burrow. Notice the shallow scrape, dug underneath a flat stone.

Female Vaejovis paysonensis

Along AZ-87, through Sunflower, Maricopa County, we searched for specimens of an interesting Vaejovis sp. reported from Sunflower. We were only able to find dense aggregations of Centruroides sculpturatus on vertical surfaces and Vaejovis spinigerus along the baselines and rocky slopes. We also found several specimens of the theraphosid, Aphonopelma chalcodes.

Adult Aphonopelma chalcodes female from Sunflower.

Top left: gravid female V. spinigerus. Top right: V. spinigerus female. Bottom: lateral view of pleural membrane showing post-embryos in V. spinigerus.

Centruroides sculpturatus dominated the rocky bluffs. We found them on the mid-Sonoran floor from 2,000–2,400 ft. in elevation, to rocky outcrops among the ponderosa pines around 7,500 ft.

Pictured here are two females, the photo to the left shows a light example of the gertschi morph. This individual is also gravid—it gave birth about six hours after this photo was taken.

Habitat of Aphonopelma behlei, an undetermined dwarf Aphonopelma, Centruroides sculpturatus, and Vaejovis cf paysonensis in the Mazatzal Mountains. Elevation of this chaparral biotic community ranged from 6,700 to 8,000 ft., with varying degrees of microhabitat preference from species to species.

Unidentified Aphonopelma species

Juvenile Aphonopelma behlei

We almost lost the truck over a steep dropoff and pulled away with some moderate body damage. Due to the condition of the road and the truck being stuck, we were forced to spend another cold night in the pines. The rough ride even threw the truck’s shell seven inches off the bed, and both of the sidesteps had to be removed in order to continue driving.

Driving down from the forest we stopped to take a break and found this sub-adult Aphonopelma chalcodes female in the Arizona Upland community.

Habitat of Paruroctonus becki, Vaejovis confusus, and Aphonopelma cf. chalcodes. Centruroides sculpturatus can also be found among the rock walls.Serradigitus wupatkiensis is also reported from the rocky outcrops and cracked mud of the playa in this region, although this was not confirmed.Hadrurus spadix has also been reported from this vicinity.

Paria Plateau, Vermillion Cliffs area. Beautiful Colorado Plateau Desert above Marble Canyon along the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Mudstone deposits provided an excellent microhabitat for Paruroctonus becki, and Aphonopelma cf. chalcodes. The theraphosids in fact seemed to be found exclusively in areas with these deposits.

Although Paruroctonus becki was found in comparable numbers in this mixed-sandy microhabitat, Vaejovis confusus seemed to be limited to this type of microhabitat.

Pictured here is a burrow of Paruroctonus becki. Their burrows were almost always found at the base of a grass mound, sagebrush, or shrub. Not all specimens were found in, or near an established burrow. While foraging, they would often construct a simple depression in the sand, in which they huddle while waiting for food to pass by. We have seen this behavior in many members of the Paruroctonus genus.

Top left: sub-adult Aphonopelma cf. chalcodes female. Top right: Paruroctonus becki male. Bottom left: P. becki female. Bottom right: P. becki female.

We spent several hours blacklighting and searching under rocks and debris in the forests

and chaparral of the Kaibab Plateau (background). We were not able to confirm the

presence of any scorpion species.

Our thanks to Lorenzo Prendini, Jeremy Huff, David Sissom, Warren Savary,

Darrin Vernier, Christian Elowsky, Richard Haradon, and foremost Kari McWest.