Mainland México (Distrito Federal, Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca; Estado de México, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Hidalgo): Three weeks (15 July–7 August, 2002), supported by the AMNH. Two trips, totalling ca. 5,000 km were undertaken by Lorenzo Prendini. The first proceeded southeast (through the states of Distrito Federal, Puebla, Veracruz and Oaxaca) with Dr Javier Ponce Saavedra (Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo), Dr Oscar Francke (Curator of Arachnida, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México [UNAM]) and Edmundo Gonzaléz (formerly at UNAM, but now based at the AMNH/CUNY). The second proceeded northeast (through the states of Distrito Federal, Estado de México, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas and Hidalgo) with Francke, Gonzaléz and José Soriano (a professional speleologist). Both trips targeted cavernicolous arachnids for molecular systematic projects on scorpions and minor arachnid orders. Although no troglobitic scorpions were found, numerous troglobitic amblypygids, opilionids, schizomids and myriapods were obtained. In addition, five genera and 37 species of scorpions were collected in epigean habitats. The total collections numbered ca. 450 specimens.