new mexico 5–7 september 2008 9–13 october 2008

New Mexico5–7 September 2008

9–13 October 2008

Kari J. McWestandKeisha D. Hendricks(and Sydda)

Part 1.5–7 September 2008 We took two trips in late 2008 to New Mexico to acquire additional specimens of scorpions and solifuges for REVSYS and GSIS. Our first trip was in early September. We heard from someone that had seen “small brown scorpions” over the years where he was raised in the mountains near Albuquerque. On the way to Albuquerque, we sampled several sites including the forests and came up empty-handed. The next morning we drove through Albuquerque—right into a parade—then to the Albuquerque Biological Park for Sydda before moving on to Grants in search of more little brown scorpions related to Vaejovis vorhiesi for DNA and evaluation.

We traveled west to the Zuni Mountains and El Malpais near Grants, New Mexico, with the mission to obtain specimens of an

undescribed Vaejovis species in the area. Many hours of rock-turning and blacklighting yielded no scorpions or solifuges.

According to our hosts at the Cimarron Rose Bed and Breakfast, the region was suffering from drought. They also gave us localities on the property (left) where they had seen

scorpions, but none were found by turning rocks or blacklighting..

Discouraged, after another day of

seemingly futile sampling, we decided

to try one last spot.

Female Vaejovis sp.

Echinocereus fendleri

Thanks to David Sissom, Lorenzo Prendini, Jeremy Huff, and Zach Valois.

Special thanks to Sheri McWethi and Tom Kennedy of Cimarron Rose Bed & Breakfast. Funded in part by NSF-REVSYS.

Photos by Kari McWest and Keisha Hendricks.

Part 2.Southwestern New Mexico

9–13 October 2008.

Once again, a REVSYS/GSIS “team” (Kari and Keisha) visited the Bootheel of New Mexico in efforts to collect adults and additional specimens of undescribed

scorpion species known in the area, along with solifuges and tarantulas.Target localities included the ever popular Granite Gap of the Peloncillo Mountains,

the Big Hatchet Mountains, the Little Florida Mountains, and Cookes Range in SW New Mexico, then to the high country of western New Mexico and eastern Arizona.

We drove straight from Amarillo, Texas, to Portal, Arizona, in order

to spend as much time as possible collecting in the area,

using Portal as a base. Barbara Roth graciously invited us to stay at the Roth house on Cave Creek

—this time, the creek was a beautiful, flowing stream and not

the raging torrent that Hunter and I visited in July.

Before we arrived at Portal, we stopped at Granite Gap to

blacklight.

Superstitionia donensis

Centruroides sculpturatus

At 3 AM, in strong, cool winds, we sampled at Granite Gap and

found a few Centruroides sculpturatus (including the pair I

always leave on one particular rock) and a lone Superstitionia

donensis. (We revisited the next night and found a small Vaejovis

spinigerus.) The next morning we left the Chiricahua Mountains that

were about to be shrouded in rain.

Vaejovis spinigerus

Our next mission was to attempt to reach Gray Mountain, seen here in the rain! We did, however, drive as close as we could get, but the approaching rain and the walking distance to the slopes nixed the idea. After that, however, we continued to Hachita to reach the Big Hatchet Mountains. Along the way we found four tarantulas (2 species!) crossing the road all within 100 meters or so.

Pepsis cf thisbe dragging large wolf spider (Hogna?) across Portal Road. She became quite defensive as I approached to photograph her!

Once again to the Big Hatchet Mountains.This time, with a high-clearance, all-wheel-drive SUV, so no oil pan

blowouts!

Hitchhiker!

She’s smiling—even after an arduous hike—because I proposed to her when

we arrived!

Exhausted!

After turning rocks at the cliffs, we got lucky on the way down by catching a glimpse of this little Vaejois under the edge of a rock, with black light.

Little Florida Mountains.Previous attempts on the west side of these mountains by other REVSYS teams to recover additional specimens of a Vaejovis sp. were unsuccessful, so we decided to try a different approach, literally: the east side.The people at the Adobe Deli in Lewis Flats east of Deming directed us to Black Rock Canyon. We scouted the canyon in the daytime in hopes of finding specimens and places to blacklight later that evening. What we found were several mines and a very interesting assortment of wildlife.

Megetra cancellataA large, weird blister beetle

Canyon tree frogHyla arenicolor

Loxosceles sp.

Romalea spp.

Diapheromera cf covillei

It was definitely lubber season!

Sarah Palin hunting scorpions?

After dinner, we returned to the mine tunnel and blacklighted, only to find “remnants” of

scorpions under several rocks—we knew we were in the right place, but was it the right

time?

About to give up, we always seem to find our target at the very last minute!

This little Vaejovis sp. was found under a rock while blacklighting in a

cool recess in the canyon. Not the adult male we wanted, but it’s a

record and will provide much-needed DNA.

Last stop, Cookes Range, where in July, Hunter and I discovered an undescribed Vaejovis sp. We returned to hopefully find additional specimens. Unfortunately, only a single juvenile was found after searching numerous other areas in the vicinity, but the juvenile was found in the same canyon. The roads were treacherous. Notice the grass is much higher and much drier than last time.

We continued to Eager, Arizona, to meet with Joe Bigelow to discuss additional localities and systematics. On the way, we made a few other stops to find additional material related to Vaejovis paysonensis, but were unsuccessful.

Total take of these two trips:Centruroides sculpturatus (additional material) Superstitionia donensis (additional material)Vaejovis spinigerus (additional material)Vaejovis sp. (Grants, NM, new DNA material)Vaejovis sp. (Big Hatchet Mtns, additional material)Vaejovis sp. (Little Florida Mtns, new DNA material)Vaejovis sp. (Cookes Range, additional material, second specimen known)

Aphonopelma spp. (4 males of 2 spp, as yet undetermined)

While it may not look like much, four target species were collected that represent much-needed material for DNA and morphology. These trips were very successful because several attempts to find these species by separate REVSYS teams failed. These teams were, however, very successful in that they tried.One species in this region still eludes us, as do adults of the Vaejovis spp. Sampling in these regions of the American Southwest are often hampered by road conditions due to weather, and weather extremes, including too much or too little rainfall, high winds, and low evening temperatures.Another aspect to consider is access to remote areas where these and possibly other, undiscovered populations occur, locked gates, and long hiking distances to find suitable habitat.

Thanks to Lorenzo Prendini, David Sissom, Jeremy Huff, Brent Hendrixson, Joe and Judy Bigelow, Zach Valois, and of

course, Barbara Roth.Supported in part by NSF-REVSYS.

Special thanks to the staff and “regulars” at the Adobe Deli, Deming, New Mexico.

Photos by Kari and Keisha.