A DIFFERENT OOGENETIC PATTERN IN A US APOIKOGENOUS SCORPION, VAEJOVIS-SPINIGERUS (SCORPIONES, VAEJOVIDAE)

The ovariuterus of the scorpion Vaejovis spinigerus (Scorpiones, Vaejo vidae) differs from that of all other apoikogenic species studied so f ar in that the oocytes mature inside, rather than on the outer surface , of the ovariuterus tubes. Only the small, second and third oocyte ge nerations are situated on the outer surface, sometimes even on top, of the mature oocytes. This oogenetic pattern has so far not been descri bed in any other scorpion species. Since no males were found in the po pulations studied here, this species can be assumed to be parthenogene tic. However, this point needs more concrete proof.