Scorpions Facts, Information, and Photos

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Seeing a scorpion in your home can be alarming. These pests don’t just look scary, they can actually be dangerous.

While scorpions prefer living outdoors, they may sometimes seek shelter in your home. When that happens, you need to make sure they leave your property and never come back again.

In this article, we’ll cover the following commonly asked questions about scorpions, tips for preventing an infestation, and how to get rid of them.

  • What are scorpions?
  • What do scorpions look like?
  • Scorpion reproduction and lifecycle stages
  • Scorpion habits and diet
  • What eats scorpions?
  • Where do you find scorpions?
  • What are the different types of scorpions?
  • Are scorpions poisonous?
  • What are scorpion stings?
  • What happens if a scorpion stings you?
  • How common are scorpion stings?
  • What are the possible complications of a scorpion sting?
  • What are the symptoms of a scorpion sting?
  • Can scorpions kill you?
  • How are scorpion stings treated?
  • When to see a doctor because of a scorpion sting
  • About scorpion venom
  • Potential medical uses of scorpion venom
  • What attracts scorpions in a house?
  • How do I keep scorpions away
  • How to get rid of scorpions
  • Benefits of choosing Terminix for your scorpion control

What are scorpions?

Contrary to popular belief, scorpions are not insects. Rather, scorpions are predatory arachnids. Their distant relatives are spiders, mites, and ticks. Like all arachnids, they have eight legs. Although they are classified as arachnids, scorpions are also the oldest known arthropods on the planet. Arachnids are classified beneath the category of arthropods, which are a type of invertebrate creature with an exoskeleton and jointed legs. Historical instances of scorpions date back to the time of the ancient Greeks, including these arachnids as the inspiration for the constellation Scorpio.

Scorpions are commonly found in the southern half of the United States, in both the Southeast and Southwest. Outside of the US, they can be found in parts of South America. While these pests prefer dry desert climates, they often hide in cool, dark places during the day – such as beneath sand and rocks – and hunt by night.

While small (adults are about 2 inches long), these pests are notoriously venomous. A sting from a scorpion can have varying results, ranging from a slight allergic reaction to a fatal outcome depending on the species alongside other factors.

One of the reasons why scorpions can be so difficult to deal with is that they are adept at hiding. You may not know that you have unpleasant neighbors until their occasional visit turns into a full-blown infestation.

What do scorpions look like?

As arachnids, scorpions have eight legs. These legs are complemented by a pair of pincers and a thin, segmented tail with a stinger on its tip. Depending on the species, scorpions can range between 1 and 5 inches in length, and weigh between 0.02 and 0.2 ounces.

Scorpions look like tiny lobsters or crabs. They are usually yellow or black. However, some species are brown, red, and orange.

Scorpion reproduction and lifecycle stages

Scorpions typically mate in the early fall or spring. Once a female scorpion’s eggs have been fertilized with the male scorpion’s sperm, the female carries the egg inside her body. The duration of gestation depends on the species. For some, the gestation process can take a few months, while others may take up to a year to develop.

Once born, a scorpion nymph looks like a small version of the adult. It takes roughly a year for a scorpion nymph to mature. For the first two weeks of a scorpion nymph’s life, it will cling to its mother’s back until it molts for the first time. Following its initial molt, a scorpion nymph will go off on its own, molting five to six times until it attains adulthood.

Generally, adult scorpions can live between two to six years, although some species can live for up to 15 years.

Scorpion habits and diet

Scorpions rest by day and hunt by night. During the day, they find a cool dark place to hide and sleep. These critters are active all year round. The peak of their activity is summertime.

Scorpions are carnivores that usually prey on insects. However, they have also been known to eat snakes, lizards, small rodents, and even other scorpions. These pests can regulate their metabolism masterfully. If there isn’t any food around, they can slow their metabolism down to the point of hibernation.

What eats scorpions?

Scorpions are prey for tarantulas, lizards, owls, birds, centipedes, bats, and mice. One such mouse, the grasshopper mouse, is resistant to the venom of the often-lethal bark scorpion. All the more reason why scorpions are a primary component of a grasshopper mouse’s diet!

People eat scorpions too. They are popular street food in China, Thailand, and Vietnam. You can also find scorpion feasters in the southwestern states. They say that these critters don’t just look like a crab – they taste like it, too!

Where do you find scorpions?

More than 2,500 species of scorpions exist in the world, including throughout South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the southern portion of the United States across both coasts.

Scorpions usually live outdoors where food is readily available. They are sensitive to light, so they tend to stay hidden in dark crevices during the day. You can find them under rocks, pieces of bark, and bricks. While a few species can survive in extremely cold climates, most prefer temperatures between 68 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit.

When these pests take shelter in your home, you may discover them in garages, basements, bathrooms, dark drawers, garden plants, and even inside your shoes.

What are the different types of scorpions?

Of the thousands of scorpion species across the globe, approximately 50 of them live in the United States.

Some of the most common types of scorpions you can find in the US are:

  • Arizona Hairy Scorpion
  • Bark Scorpion (the most venomous scorpion in North America)
  • Devil (Stripe-Tailed) Scorpion
  • Indian Red Scorpion

The majority of scorpions you may encounter in the US do not pose a lethal threat to humans. However, that doesn’t make an infestation any less unpleasant or dangerous.

Are scorpions poisonous?

Not all scorpions are poisonous to humans. Very few venomous species of scorpions are found in the US. Although Arizona is home to at least 30 different species of scorpions, only the bark scorpion is deemed lethal. The bark scorpion can also be found in parts of California, as well.

Some scorpions can produce venom that can be lethal to small children and the elderly. With timely medical assistance, it’s possible to prevent an unfortunate outcome.

What are scorpion stings?

A scorpion stings by using the stinger, also known as a telson, on the tip of its tail. The stinger has a bulb on the end that terminates in a needle-like protrusion. Venom is created and stored inside the bulb. Each type of scorpion has its own distinct venom and levels of toxicity.

Scorpions respond to a perceived threat by using its stinger, which injects tiny amounts of venom that affect the nervous system.

What happens if a scorpion stings you?

When a scorpion stings you, you could experience a variety of symptoms that range from mild pain to anaphylactic shock. For example, when bitten by a bark scorpion, less than 5% of people experience serious symptoms.

If you are experiencing severe symptoms, you need to seek medical attention immediately.

How common are scorpion stings?

About 1.2 million scorpion stings take place in the world (mostly in Africa and India). Only about 0.27% of them lead to lethal outcomes.

What are the possible complications of a scorpion sting?

Since the venom affects the nervous system, a sting could lead to heart and muscle problems. It could also cause a mild to a severe allergic reaction.

What are the symptoms of a scorpion sting?

The most common symptoms of a scorpion sting are:

  • Pain
  • Numbness
  • Swelling
  • Warmth at the site of the sting

Symptoms that indicate a scorpion’s venom has spread systemically include anaphylactic shock, difficulty breathing, heightened blood pressure, sweating, and muscle twitching. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Children often have a stronger reaction to scorpion venom and should see an emergency physician right away if stung.

Can scorpions kill you?

Deaths as a result of a scorpion sting are extremely rare (0.27%). Of the 1.2 million scorpion stings that happen around the globe each year, fatalities usually happen due to a lack of access to immediate medical treatment.

How are scorpion stings treated?

The Mayo Clinic recommends treating a scorpion sting by first cleaning it with soap and water. To relieve the pain, you can apply a cold compress and take over-the-counter pain relievers. If you observe difficulty swallowing, avoid eating or drinking.

While most adults may not require follow up care, children still need to see a medical professional immediately. Similarly, severe reactions to scorpion stings in both adults and children need to be treated in a hospital setting.

When to see a doctor because of a scorpion sting

You need to see a doctor if your symptoms are severe or if mild reactions don’t go away for days. Children should see a doctor regardless of severity of symptoms following a scorpion sting. Venom may have a stronger effect on a small child’s body compared to that of a healthy adult.

About scorpion venom

Scorpion venom contains neurotoxins that help paralyze prey. Although they are small, it’s their natural ability to produce venom that helps scorpions hunt larger animals.

Potential medical uses of scorpion venom

Scientists believe that in the future, scorpion venom can help treat lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer.

What attracts scorpions in a house?

When entering your home, scorpions are looking for water and shelter. They are likely to come if you have sources of standing water in the kitchen, bathroom, attic, or basement. Scorpions may also take shelter in your home if it’s too hot outside.

How do I keep scorpions away?

To keep scorpions away from your home, you need to seal cracks and crevices around your doors and windows. You should also look for other entry points outside the house.

Since these pests like to hide in debris, you need to remove woodpiles from the territory, keep the grass short, and trim overhanging trees. Keep all landscaping at least two feet away from your house. Indoors, reduce clutter as these creatures may find hiding spots under clothing piles, inside shoes, or beneath cardboard boxes and paper products.

How to get rid of scorpions?

To get rid of scorpions, there are several DIY methods you can try:

  • Applying boric acid to harder to reach spaces, such as cracks and crevices where they may enter
  • Setting up sticky traps
  • Eliminating sources of standing water in and around your home

DIY methods may not help you deal with a scorpion infestation. To make sure you remove all scorpions from your property, consider hiring pest control professionals.

Benefits of choosing Terminix® for your scorpion control

Terminix® pest control experts have experience in rooting out scorpions and helping to stamp out infestations. We offer a personalized assessment and recommend a treatment plan to help get rid of your scorpion problem. Terminix pest specialists can also offer you proactive advice to prevent scorpions from coming back.

Once you purchase a Terminix plan, our team of experts offers guaranteed protection for as long as you keep your plan. If your scorpion problem comes back between treatments, we’ll be there to help get rid of them at no added cost to you.

Tired of battling scorpions on your own? Contact us for a free inspection today!

You are viewing this post: Scorpions Facts, Information, and Photos. Information curated and compiled by Kayaknv.com along with other related topics.

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I'm a writer who focuses on the outdoors and travel. I share my time between Alaska and Colorado, where, when I'm not writing, I enjoy camping, kayaking, hiking, fishing, and skiing (often with dogs in tow). My byline may also be seen in publications such as The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and others.

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