What is the Arizona Bark Scorpion?
The Arizona Bark Scorpion is a nocturnal pest which means it hunts at night. Scorpions feed on insects like centipedes, spiders, cricket and another scorpion too. If a mother scorpion gets hungry she will eat her babies. On the other hand, Scorpions are food to Invertebrates, reptiles, and birds! Did you know the Arizona Bark Scorpion belongs to the arachnid family as they have 8 legs and a set of pinchers.
Where do we find Scorpions?
The Arizona bark scorpion has an amazing ability to climb on anything with a rough surface. More importantly, they cannot climb up glass or slick surfaces. You can find the bark scorpion in tree bark, palm trees, under rocks, and on block walls at night. Scorpions prefer to be inverted so you will usually find them upside down and sideways on a wall. They are attracted to the heat of rocks and stones. You can search your backyard with a blacklight to find out if you have a scorpion problem.
Why do we find Scorpions Inside?
A scorpion can find its way inside through 1/16 of an inch gap. They are usually attracted to the house for food and/or warmth. Most of the houses built in the valley are stucco homes that have J molding. Therefore, you look underneath there is usually a significant gap all the way around the house along with the weep holes. Scorpions will make their way up through the gap and after that usually enter the house through a can light or any other gap that they can squeeze through.
Do Scorpions Sting?
Yes they do. Adult bark scorpions have the ability to control how much venom is being passed when it stings as this is how it attacks its prey. Baby scorpions have not learned how to control this therefore, their stings tend to be worse.
Symptoms of being stung by a bark scorpion
- You feel intense burning pain at the site of sting immediately
- Minor swelling
- Numbness of the face skin and feeling of a swollen tongue or at the sight of the sting
- Difficulty in breathing, abdominal pain and respiratory issues
- Pain all over the body
- Drooling, erratic eye movement, drooling and facial muscle twitching in extreme cases or in children.
It is also important to add that despite the extreme reaction from the bark scorpion sting; there are on a few rare cases of fatalities. These were the result of either very young children or an adult with a compromised immune system.
What to do if you have been stung!
- Wash the area with soap and water to clean sting
- Press a cool cloth for compress (don’t use ice)
- Use ibuprofen to relieve pain and swelling.
- Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222
- Most Importantly, if it’s a child, call their pediatrician after poison control.
Finally, if you still have questions about Scorpions give us a call today to discuss our scorpion treatment options!
