There are some pests that we hear more about than others. One of the pests that people like to talk about is the scorpion. When people talk about scorpions the scorpion seems to somehow get bigger or scarier or more aggressive or more dangerous each time they tell the story. These stories have resulted in people having many beliefs about scorpions that are not true. Let’s uncover whether these myths are fact or fiction.
Do Scorpions Bite & Sting?
This myth is half fact and half fiction. Scorpions do not have teeth so they cannot bite you. They do have claws that look dangerous but they do not use them to bite people. Scorpions use their tails for defense instead of their claws. Scorpions will indeed sting you though. We will discuss their sting in myth number two.
Can You Die from a Scorpion Sting?
The second myth that people frequently talk about is that if a scorpion stings you, you will die. This myth is also half fact and half fiction. In the United States, there are over 100 species of scorpions. Only the Arizona Bark Scorpion possesses venom that is capable of causing fatalities in humans. Scorpions have the ability to regulate the amount of venom that they inject when they sting you. When they sting you it takes them time to recover their venom supply, so scorpions typically will only use a small amount of venom or not venom at all when they sting you. Studies have shown that only 5% of scorpion stings require medical attention each year. If you do require medical attention after a scorpion sting, there are antidotes that severely decrease the likelihood that a scorpion sting will be fatal. There are cases where people have died after being stung by a scorpion though, so this is a myth that does has a partial truth in it.
Are Scorpions Aggressive?
Our third myth is the first one that is actually just fiction entirely. Many people believe that scorpions are aggressive. This is entirely false! Scorpions do not aggressively pursue humans. Scorpions prefer to live beneath rocks and debris. Most scorpion stings happen when people step on a scorpion or reach into an area where a scorpion is hiding on accident. To avoid being stung by a scorpion you can make sure that you always wear shoes when you are in areas that scorpions have been known to hide. You also want to make sure that you never reach into a pile of debris or underneath rocks with your bare hands.
Do Scorpion Stings Always Leave a Mark?
Fourth on our list is that scorpion stings always leave a mark. Again, this myth has some truth in it but is not a hard fact. Sometimes when a scorpion stings you there will be a mark, but more often than not no mark is left when they sting you. Many times it can be hard to tell if they stung you at all because there will not be a visible sign of a sting. You can best identify a scorpion sting by the burning sensation that immediately follows the sting and the numbness or tingling that begins later. Sometimes there will be swelling following a scorpion sting as well.
Are Larger Scorpions More Dangerous than Small
The last myth that we will discuss today is that larger scorpions are more dangerous. This myth is completely false! The most dangerous scorpion is the Arizona Bark Scorpion. It is the size of a nickel but carries the deadliest venom of all the scorpions. Other species of scorpions can be two to five inches long but release much weaker venom.
Ant Inspection, Extermination, Control Services & More in Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville, Cedar Park & Austin Texas
Did you learn something about scorpions that you did not know before? A-Tex Pest Management hopes that you did! Next time you see a scorpion you now have a few more facts that will help make them less scary to you. If you have scorpions at your home that you need help getting rid of, call A-Tex Pest Management today.