Mesobuthus eupeus (C. L. Koch, 1839)

Karataş, Ayşegül & Çolak, Mehmet, 2005, Scorpions of Gaziantep Province, Turkey (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Euscorpius 30 (30), pp. 1-7 : 3

Mesobuthus eupeus (C. L. Koch, 1839)

Specimens examined: Şahinbey, west of modern graveyard, 21.VII.2003: 1 ♀ ( ZDNU2003 /482), Şahinbey, Karataş district , 28.VI.2003: 1 ♀ ( ZDNU 2003 /521); 10.IV.2005: 1 ♂ ( ZDNU 2005 /15), Şahinbey, Mazmakor Village, 28.VI.2003: 2 ♀♀ ( ZDNU 2003 /475, 531), Şahinbey, Yeşilkent, 21.VII.2003: 1 ♀ ( ZDNU 2003 /481); Karataş district, 15.III.2003 ; Şehitkâmil , east of Türkyurdu, 10.V.2005: 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂ ( ZDNU 2005/11/1, 3); Karkamış, 09.V.2005: 1 ♀, 1 ♂ ( ZDNU 2005/12/1, 2); Oğuzeli, Üçkubbe Village, 18.V.2005: 5 ♀♀, 1 ♂ ( ZDNU 2005/10/1, 6) .

Comments: Distribution of this buthid scorpion in Anatolia was given by Karataş & Karataş (2003). It mainly ranges east of Anatolian diagonal and in central Anatolia (Aksaray, Nevşehir, Niğde, and Konya Provinces). There is also a disjunct record from Manisa Province in western Anatolia ( Teruel, 2002). The present study gives the first record of M. eupeus in the Gaziantep Province. The specimens were found under stones in steppe areas or near almond gardens on lower slopes of mountains. Only this species was found near the human settlements. One of those specimens was found near the city graveyard and another, on a balcony of an apartment .