Background and Aim: The Persian Gulf region has a warm and humid climate with suitable conditions for the reproduction, biodiversity and spread of poisonous insects and arachnids. Previous studies have reported some stinging insects and arachnids including scorpions, bees, wasps and ants on Persian Gulf islands. This study was performed to report more species than other stinging arthropods.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted during 2014 in the Triple Iranian Islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, Bu-Muosa and Qeshm in the Persian Gulf. In this study, direct hunting, hand catching, pitfall trap and total catch methods were used for hunting of insects and arachnids. Direct poaching in their natural habitats and hand catching as well as pitfall trap trapping were used for the poisonous arthropods, including centipedes. For the capture of poisonous spiders, the method of searching and catching them in dark and damp places such as warehouses, roofs, etc., as well as the total catch method was used. The spider-like species were also hunted around the places by night searches. Samples were conserved in 70% alcohol and moved to Health Research Center laboratory. Systematic identification was done by used of valid diagnostic keys.
Results: In this study, 38 highly toxic centipedes (Scolopendra valid) were captured and identified and 70 more were identified as Scolopendra spp. A total of 158 spiders were also captured. This total includes three specimens of the extremely dangerous and poisonous red-backed black widow (Latrodectus hasselti) from the old village and Souza area and Qeshm city on Qeshm Island. In addition, 28 spider-like species were captured from camel spider group in the military environment of the old village on Qeshm Island. Giant camel spiders were identified from the Galeodidae family.
Conclusion: In this survey, more species of stinging/biting arachnids were reported from Triple Iranian Islands and Qeshm and therefore more information was obtained from poisoning arthropod fauna in the islands. The findings from these studies, in addition to awareness of species distribution, can be useful in the management and control of these arachnids and may help in future biological studies.