Environmental determinants of venom variability in captive scorpions: A comprehensive analysis of diet, temperature, and humidity effects.

This study examines the effects of environmental conditions on venom production in four prevalent scorpion species in Morocco: Androctonus amoreuxi, Androctonus mauretanicus, Buthus mardochei, and Scorpio maurus. The research focuses on how climatic factors such as temperature, humidity, and diet-specifically mealworm consumption-affect physical parameters including size and weight, and ultimately venom yield. We conducted a comprehensive investigation involving the capture, acclimatization, and systematic venom extraction from 480 scorpions. Our findings indicate considerable variations in venom volumes, with Scorpio maurus showing a reduced yield compared to Androctonus amoreuxi. Key determinants of venom production were identified as humidity and dietary intake, pointing to significant implications for interspecific diversity and acclimatization processes. These insights have crucial implications for medical and pharmaceutical applications, emphasizing the need for species-specific husbandry protocols to optimize venom extraction for therapeutic use.