Male-to-female poisoning of the same species, although rare, has been documented in all venomous taxa. While traditionally interpreted as a coercive mating strategy to enhance male reproductive success and prevent cannibalism, this explanation may not fully explain the behavior of scorpions, which exhibit minor sexual dimorphism in size and complex courtship rituals. This review explores the possibly multifaceted functions of the sexual stinger in scorpions. We highlight possible adaptive strategies, such as venom dosage and compositional plasticity, that allow males to subdue females without causing lethal damage. We discuss hypotheses about the evolution of sexual stinging, ranging from sexual coercion to chemical seduction and cooperative signaling. Finally, we propose future research directions, including comparative venomics, behavioral assays, and ecological studies, to shed light on the selective pressures that shape this enigmatic behavior. By integrating insights from physiology, ecology, and evolution, this review advances our understanding of sexual envenomation as a dynamic interplay between conflict and cooperation in scorpion reproductive strategies.
Reitsema-Wang, Yuqi, Yuri Simone, Volker Herzig, Ronald Jenner, Tim Lüeddecke and Jonas Krämer. “Sexual stings in scorpions: knockout drug or love potion?” EcoEvoRxiv, October 22, 2025. https://ecoevorxiv.org/repository/view/10575/.
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