One of the hazards of living in the southwest is the wildlife. The native animals refused to leave when the people moved in. Coyotes run through the streets and hawks attack pets. Even a javelina has been seen taking off with the neighbor’s Hallowe’en pumpkin. The animal that really upsets people is the scorpion. Newcomers to Phoenix get to hear all about scorpions and how they can be found inside the house, in the bed, in shoes etc.
Many people tell me if I go outside at night with a black light you find lots of them.
DougT may find this marvelous but we are taking the ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ approach.
I don’t want to know they are there.
So far we have encountered 2 scorpions – one was in the garage; the other was indoors crawling in front of the TV. (The later prompted Someone to call the exterminator). I think I stepped on one once which I wrote about here at Spo-Reflections.
For a man who runs screaming like a girl at the mention of tarantulas, I am not fazed by scorpions. They make me wary but I don’t go into hysterics.
As a public service, I thought I would tell you about the types we have. I don’t think I can match the scientific quality of DougT at Gossamer Tapestry, or Cedrorum at Mutual Causality but I will give it a try.
Scorpions live in the wild in your house. They are more active in hot weather and when you move in. In general the larger scorpions are less venomous, relying on size to scare you.
There are 3 primary scorpions in this area and they are all nasty.
The giant desert hairy scorpion
The rock scorpion
The mature bark scorpion
The Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion is four inches long and 3x larger than the rock scorpion. It has no redeemable qualities but it is large enough to be seen from afar so you can more readily run away screaming like a girl or shoot it with several rounds of ammo (This is Arizona after all).
The Rock Scorpion is a smaller version of the GDHS and more likely to sneak up on you so look out Mary. Both types have tails either behind them or over their bodies in a ‘hook’ position guaranteed to frighten the daylights out of you.
The Bark scorpion is about the same size as the rock scorpion, 2.5 inches long. The bark scorpion looks frail compared to the others but it has the nastiest sting. It wraps it tail around the side of the body. The tail segments are longer and thinner than the rocks’ which are more short and thick. Either way both should be stamped upon real good with heavy boots.
Bark scorpions are found mostly around homes and yards. They are more active at night time. The bastards scorpions are more like to sleep in clothes, towels, very small cracks etc. At night time they crawl around the house up and are up to no good.
As a “scorpion bonus”, here is a mnemonic I learned in med school. It helps you remember all the different types of drugs that could be abused.
ACH! SCORPIONS!
Alcohol
Cannabis
Hallucinogens
Stimulants
Caffeine
Over the counters
Rx (prescription medications)
PCP
Inhalants
Opiods
Nicotine
Sedatives
20 comments
July 29, 2008 at 5:19 AM
BentonQuest
Just think of them a funny looking cats! Many of the things you attributed to scorpion can also be attributed to cats.
Urspo – the difference is when you step on a cat in the dark of the night they raise quite a fuss
July 29, 2008 at 5:50 AM
Seamus
I’ve always loved The Scorpions, but not the pictured kind…
You should be able to give bugs that big a name. Especially that first one.
Here Fido… roll over… play dead.
I’d hate to slip my foot into a slipper with one of those bastards in there… ouch! Does Terminex really take care of them?
Urspo – I was rather dubious about somebody spraying nasty toxins in the house. but given the choice between scorpions and toxins, we chose the later.
July 29, 2008 at 5:56 AM
stephen
I agree with you, nothing but nasty wretched little critters, but to Bear Gryalls………..lunch!
July 29, 2008 at 6:26 AM
Raybob
Hate those lil’ boogers
July 29, 2008 at 7:10 AM
Shawn
Glad i read this in the morning and not before bedtime!
July 29, 2008 at 7:44 AM
foxystone
one of the perks of living further north is that the list of (nasty/venomous large) (insects/arachnids/general creepy crawlies) is shorter than further south.
July 29, 2008 at 8:07 AM
Lemuel
There are many hazards of nature, weather, and wild critters here around Lake Gonebelow, but I’ll take them any day over scorpions and other stuff in other parts of this world. I guess it may be all related to what you are used to, but give me a blizzard anyday!
July 29, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Diederick
Thrilling!
To think that I hate mosquitoes sort of tells you how I feel about creatures with nastier consequences than a small itchy lump.
July 29, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Robert
I’m with you, Spo. Spiders, no matter how small, scare the daylights out of me. But scorpions I find rather fascinating, especially the example Seamus posted. 🙂
July 29, 2008 at 11:35 AM
"Joe"
Well, I’m told I’m a Scorpio, and I know my tail does NOT sting (contrary to the opinions of others).
I’m a much friendlier type than those little crawly things. i don’t think they live around here. I hope.
July 29, 2008 at 12:34 PM
doug
Thanks for this informative post. If I ever come to your house for a visit, I am wearing a lot of padding. Those little buggers would scare me to death!
July 29, 2008 at 12:41 PM
tigeryogiji
Ack! Better you than me, Hon. Better you than me…
July 29, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Greg in CA
Try waking to a Jerusalem cricket crawling across your chest….
July 29, 2008 at 1:56 PM
rodger
Kewl, scorpions! We have only boring pests here like garter snakes, moles and mice. The only poisonous types are a couple spiders. maybe living in the rain 8 months out of a year dilutes the venom. Hah!
July 29, 2008 at 2:19 PM
cedrorum
LOL, if I could write posts this good my readership might be larger. I think you did a marvelous job of writing this, much better than I could. I need your wit. Thanks for the mention. And I think one of my new favorite names for an animal is Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion. I grew up in Las Vegas and visited grandparents in Texas. Therefore, I know all you speak of these nasty critters. Surprisingly we have very little ones here in NC. I’ve only run into one in all of my field work here; thankfully I was wearing gloves.
July 29, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Pink
Ach! If I had those nasty icky things running around, I think I might be inclined to abuse some of those drugs too!
xx
pinks
July 29, 2008 at 3:15 PM
merri
GREAT header photo! Those mountains are amazing!
Great post too!
I think I would faint if I saw a scorpion.
We have few dangerous bugs here(except for hornets and wasps)
I have heard that Australia is the country for bugs….
(shudders)
LOL
😉
July 29, 2008 at 8:10 PM
javabear
Tarantulas – ick. But most spiders are no big deal. I just try to stay out of their way and let them do their thing. And try not to walk through their webs.
Scorpions, on the other hand, make me run screaming like a girl. And unfortunately, I am reading this right before I go to bed. If I have nightmares about scorpions I’m holding you directly responsible.
*shudder*
July 29, 2008 at 10:09 PM
DougT
This is so appropriate. I’m just in from an evening of blacklighting that included some rock flipping to find scorpions. I agree with cedrorum that this is a well-written expose on the subject.
July 30, 2008 at 4:35 AM
Steven
Except for an “ACK!”, you won’t hear me scream much. But I like your DADT approach. Even if there is one in there, don’t tell me a scorpion is in my bed. It may never bite me. And if I was told, I would never be able to sleep again; regardless of who’s bed I’m in. 😐
Now if we could do something about the earwigs here in the Midwest. So many are coming down with dimensia after getting their brains eaten. 😉