Posted on 04/09/2009 12:57:05 PM PDT by nickcarraway
As humans living in the desert, we often find ourselves sharing our homes with native creepy crawlers like scorpions. According to the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, there are thirty different species of scorpions throughout Arizona. Only one of those, the Bark Scorpion, which can be found in Yuma, produces potentially life-threatening symptoms.
"Most healthy adults can manage scorpion stings at home on their own with basic first aid," said Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center Managing Director Jude McMally. "The Bark Scorpion is only one and a half inches long and has more slender pinchers and tail segments then other scorpions. Their colorings are not consistent and can range from a brown color to almost transparent. Most are described as straw-colored."
McMally said the Bark Scorpion can be found just about anywhere.
"Bark Scorpions live closer to the surface than other scorpions and can be found hiding in wood piles or debris on the ground. They are active hunters who come out at night to find insects. They are able to climb up walls and ceilings, and if they find a crack or crevice, can come inside of houses."
McMally said Bark Scorpions are not very good at sticking to the ceiling as they are climbing and can fall into anything.
"Most of the 2,500 stings we consult each year are from Bark Scorpions, and usually occur in people's homes. Because they are active at night, many stings are to a person's feet when they walk through their homes without the lights on. However, stings can be anywhere on a person's body."
McMally said when you find a scorpion in your house, kill it.
"When you are trying to kill it, use something heavy because they have an exoskeleton. A fly swatter or rolled up newspaper may not be effective. Also, pesticides may not kill them immediately when sprayed directly on them because the exoskeleton delays absorption. Crushing is best."
McMally said when people are stung they need to call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) immediately.
"If the person is a healthy adult without high blood pressure or heart disease, we'll tell them to clean the sting area with soap and water and to apply a cool compress like an ice pack for ten minutes on and ten off. We also recommend they keep the affected area at about heart level.
"Most importantly, if they are having full body symptoms like visual changes, shortness of breath, or muscle twitching, they need to be seen in an emergency room immediately. Very few actually die from scorpion stings. Death is extremely uncommon. We have had only one scorpion sting death in the last six years. Ninety-five percent of all healthy adults can survive without attention."
McMally said kids are more susceptible to the toxin and must seek treatment as soon as possible.
"Kids will have a lot more severe symptoms like roving eye syndrome, hyper secretions in the lungs, and movement disorders, which means they start thrashing around uncontrollably. It can affect their heart rate and blood pressure."
McMally said it does not take long to recover from a scorpion sting.
"Usually, the pain goes away within 24 hours, but there will be a persistent numbness or tingling sensation that often lasts several days."
I’ve had numerous close calls over the years with these little bad asses, but no stings yet. I usually kill two or three every year in and around the house here in central Texas. Many years ago, I witnessed a buddy of mine getting stung by one as he leaned up against a pine tree. It went down his back under his OD t-shirt. By the time we ripped his shirt off and killed it, he had been stung 12 times. Two days later I was stripping off a set of funky,twelve day old jungle fatigues and found one tucked up under my shirt collar. No telling how long that little bastard had been there.
“Maybe you should move your bed off their landing pad.”
he...he...he... /chuckle/ We ended up selling the house. In our new place (in the same town), we haven’t seen any scorpions in the house...mercifully.
Canopy Bed .... must have item there apparently.
Growing up in Superior, AZ, I can recall that baby's cribs were screened and the legs put in Coffee cans full of water. Centipedes and Black Widows added to the fun but Scorpions were the most common attackers.
That said, I was only bit 3 times in the 38 years before we moved to a colder part of the country. Living now in Southeast Asia part of the year, we have plenty of nasty bugs, including scorpions, poisonous spiders and loads of termites. It's like being back home in Arizona.
In general, with scorpions, the smaller the pincers, the more powerful the venom in the sting. And like spiders, some species of scorpions are far more aggressive than others.
I remember seeing a large black scorpion with huge pincers once, and it was amazingly non-aggressive, and could be handled. I was told that the sting (even thought the thing about about 4” or 5” long) was about the same as a bee sting.
Finally, if you’re worried about stepping on one in the dark, carry a UV flashlight: They fluoresce.
Mark
Remove all objects from around the foundation of the house.Good luck!Prune overhanging tree branches away from the house.
Don’t store firewood inside the house and check for scorpions before bringing it inside.
Install weatherstripping around doors and windows.
Caulk around roof eaves, pipes, and any other cracks that might allow entrance.
Make sure window screens fit tightly in the window frame.
Fix any water leaks in the house and don't leave standing water (e.g. dog bowl) as they usually come in after water. With our drought here in Texas, I expect to see many scorpions this summer.
My wife is always complaining about those...especially after chili night.
We would often come downstairs in the morning to find scorpion bits next to the cat's food dish.
Here in Minnesota, she prefers plastic grocery bags from target, or, preferably, rubber bands.
Cheers!
I've long suspected firewood as the culprit as we do heat our home with wood.
And, I might have a slight disagreement about the water bowls or leaving standing water around because most of the scorpions we've found dead in the house had drowned in the dog's water dish.
I'd rather find them dead in the water than have to squish them. LOL
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