Scorpions contain venom that is very harmful to humans. Their venom can cause convulsions and shortness of breath. Only around 25 of the 1,500 scorpion species can deliver fatal stings to humans. Nevertheless, their neurotoxins can cause symptoms such as convulsions and shortness of breath. There are over 2,000 known scorpion species worldwide living in various habitats. Scorpions are well known for their tails with stingers that can pack a punch. If stung by a scorpion, call your doctor or the Arizona Poison Control and Drug Information Center.
What does a scorpion sting look like? Scorpions sting, and the sting can be excruciating and deadly. Instinctively most people would stay away, but are scorpions dangerous? The scorpion may not bite, but it stings. Seek medical attention once stung by these arachnids. Arizona has one type of scorpion considered deadly to humans – the Arizona bark scorpion. In nature, scorpions are highly beneficial as predators, feeding on potential pest organisms. Some scorpions also feed on other scorpions, controlling pests.
Myths exist about scorpions. Their venom rarely causes medical complications in humans. When people write about scorpions they focus on how dangerous they are, an undeserved reputation. In fact, humans are their worst enemy and most dangerous predator. Some symptoms of a sting are tingling, numbness, difficulty breathing, blurry vision, seizures or pancreatitis. Most scorpions cause only local pain, few cause life-threatening events. Scorpions have four pairs of legs, claws, and a tail with a poisonous spike.
What happens if a scorpion stings you?
Some common symptoms of a scorpion sting are a tingling or burning at the sting site, numbness, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, blurry vision, or seizures. In some rare cases, pancreatitis – a painful inflammation of the pancreas – may occur. A person should see a doctor if symptoms get worse within 2–3 hours of the sting. A person needs emergency care if severe, potentially life threatening conditions develop immediately after a sting.
While attacks are rare, know what to do if bitten. Identify the species before treatment or seeking medical assistance.
Stings can cause immediate pain or burning, producing small swellings sensitive to touch. Call your doctor, go to urgent care or call the Arizona Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 if stung.
Usually, pain from a sting is moderate to severe, slowly decreasing over time. Symptoms are pain, tingling, burning, or numbness at the site. The reaction may be mild.
Clean the wound with soap and water. Apply a cool compress. Don’t consume food/liquids if swallowing is difficult. Take over-the-counter pain reliever if needed.
Every year around 270 children come to hospital due to stings. In the south this is common as many live in tents, allowing easier scorpion entry. Pay attention to this. Sometimes the scorpion senses danger, attacks a child and stings.
Why do scorpions sting themselves?
Scorpions use their sting to capture prey and to defend themselves. All scorpions use their stings as a defense mechanism or a weapon to incapacitate prey. They hunt at night and will not sting unless provoked or they feel threatened.
Scorpions develop immune to their venom from the very early stage of their life. If the baby stinger stings themselves, they won’t die from their venom. The stinger is a tool to defend itself and kill its prey. It won’t use the stinger on itself as it will be futile. There are chemicals that can provoke aggression in animals. These chemicals are usually tested on mice or guinea pigs. I believe some chemicals can make scorpions aggressive, and they can do self-harm. During self-harm, they can sting themselves. However, this happens rarely.
This belief comes from an urban legend that scorpions sting themselves to avoid suffering or pain. It has real observations. However, the interpretation is wrong. Scorpions cannot regulate their temperature. That is why their bodies get hot and quickly dehydrate if surrounded by fire. When surrounded by fire, their body gets hot and quickly dehydrates, which provokes frantic spasms and contractions of their tail.
A scorpion sting is caused by the stinger in a scorpion’s tail. The venom contains toxins that affect the nervous system. Scorpions have eight legs and a tail that curves up. Pain at the sting site is gone by 24 hours. Shock waves of tingling also gone by 24 hours. Numbness and tingling around the sting may last 2 to 3 days. To neutralize a scorpion sting, wash the area with soap and water, then apply antiseptic. Apply soothing ointment and cover the area. If swelling is a problem, apply an ice pack to the area.
When they are cornered or feel no chance to survive, scorpions will choose to sting themselves to commit suicide. This myth has truth to it, but is false. The bark scorpion can still sting after death. It means they depend on the environment temperature. If surrounded by fire, their body gets hot and quickly dehydrates, which provokes contractions of the «tail».
Historic records show scorpion vodka was consumed in China and is said to possess aphrodisiac properties. This tradition continues today. It has attracted attention from adrenaline junkies. Alcohol kills scorpions. One symptom of a scorpion sting can include numbing at the injection site. Unless molested, scorpions are harmless and timid and use the sting only to kill prey.
What is special about scorpions?
Scorpions are champions of survival. A scorpion can live for a full year without food. They can stay submerged underwater for up to 48 hours and survive. Scorpions live in harsh, dry environments, but they can live on only the moisture they obtain from their food.
Despite having six to twelve eyes scorpions do not have good eyesight. Equipped with seriously super survival skills, these amazing creatures live in some of our planet’s toughest environments. When food is scarce, scorpions can slow down their metabolism so much so that they are able to live off just one insect per year! The vast majority of scorpions are nonsocial, solitary animals that interact only at birth, during courtship, or for cannibalism.
Modern scorpions can live as long as 25 years. Because they have book lungs (like horseshoe crabs), they can stay submerged underwater for up to 48 hours and survive. Scorpions are highly effective predators because they possess a unique combination of characteristics that enable them to detect prey (eyes), move quickly and agilely over any terrain in pursuit of prey (4 pairs of clawed legs), and then catch and hold prey (pedipalps and chelae) while injecting venom into the prey.
Unlike most arachnids that lay eggs, scorpions have a unique reproductive system where they give birth to live young. Between Europe and Africa scorpions of small size, which does not exceed 4 centimeters in length are found. In Africa, specifically in the north of the continent, we find one of the most dangerous types of scorpions, which is known as the Arabian fat-tailed scorpion. Scorpions feed on insects, cockroaches, rodents, lizards, and in some cases eat human flesh. They eat small insects, spiders and centipedes. Some bigger species even eat other scorpions and lizards. They are almost blind and therefore, they hunt with patience. The approximate life time of a scorpion is 3 to 8 years of which 1 is spent growing to adulthood.
Although this attitude hurt the musicians, they did not stop striving for the goal and continued climbing the stairs to popularity. In 1973, Scorpions were accompanied on tour by their favorite London rockers UFO. Englishmen highly appreciated Michael Schenker’s skill and offered the guitarist to be a part of their band, to which he agreed. Michael asked Uli Roth, who was playing in Dawn Road at the time, taking the vacant position.
Between November and March, a few species of scorpions tend to be solitary animals. But between November and March, a few species—like the dreaded North American bark scorpion—are prone to hunker down under some type of shelter where upwards of 40 individuals can hibernate side by side. Naturally, discovering such a slumber party is every arachnophobe’s worst nightmare.
Scorpion venom is used in some cultures as food. They glow under ultraviolet light, possess incredible survival skills. Fossil evidence suggests that they have been around for over 400 million years, meaning they outlived the dinosaurs. Their ability to survive so long signifies that they are extremely resilient and adaptable. Scientists discovered that some species of scorpions can move at speeds of up to 20 kilometers per hour.
On the one hand, mothers of several species will crush up small insects and feed bite-sized chunks to their brood. However, should food gets scarce, a female often resorts to eating her own progeny. Some nail biting facts about scorpions are: There have been 1400 identified species of scorpions in the world. They eat small insects, spiders and centipedes. Some bigger species even eat other scorpions and lizards. They are almost blind and therefore hunt with patience.