scorpion venom

Scorpion Stings –

When handled or disturbed, scorpions can inflict a painful sting using the poison gland at the end of the tail. Avoiding their habitats helps prevent stings. The stings from Texas scorpions produce only moderate reactions in most people because the poison has little affect on the nervous system. However, a person who is stung by a scorpion should be watched closely for adverse reactions. An ice pack applied to the affected area will relieve some pain. If swelling and/or pain persists or if breathing difficulties occur, immediate medical attention is necessary.
Scorpions as Pets
Scorpions have been kept as pets, but this practice is strongly discouraged. Scorpions should never be kept indoors or around small children. Scorpions with even relatively low poison levels can produce fatal reactions in young children and also in adults allergic to the toxin.

Control-

Scorpions are difficult to control with insecticides alone. Therefore, the first control strategy is to modify the area surrounding a house.
• Remove all trash, logs, boards, stones, bricks and other objects from around the home.
• Keep grass closely mowed near the home. Prune bushes and overhanging tree branches away from the house. Tree branches can provide a path to the roof for scorpions.
• Store garbage containers in a frame that allows them to rest above ground level.
• Never bring firewood inside the house unless it is placed directly on the fire.
• Install weather-stripping around loose fitting doors and windows.
• Plug weep holes in brick veneer homes with steel wool, pieces of nylon scouring pad or small squares of screen wire.
• Caulk around roof eaves, pipes and any other cracks into the home.
• Keep window screens in good repair. Make sure they fit tightly in the window frame.
To control scorpions with chemicals, use insecticide products that contain any of the following:
• permethrin (Prelude®, Dragnet®);
• cyfluthrin (Tempo®);
• cypermethrin (Demon®);
• lambda-cyhalothrin (Demand CS®);
• deltamethrin (Suspend®);
• propoxur (Baygon®);
• diazinon;

• chlorpyrifos (Dursban®);
• malathion;
• synergized pyrethrins.
Apply pesticides around the foundation of the house and up to 1 foot above ground level on the exterior walls. Also apply pesticides around doors, window eaves and other potential points of entry. Follow directions on the package for dosage, mixing and application methods.

Size range and diversity of structure-

Scorpions are relatively large among terrestrial arthropods, with an average size of about 6 cm (2.5 inches). Scorpions exhibit few sexual differences, although males usually are more slender and have longer tails than females. Giants among scorpions include the black emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator), an African species found in Guinea, which attains a body length of about 18 cm (7 inches) and a mass of 60 grams (more than 2 ounces). The longest scorpion in the world is the rock scorpion (Hadogenes troglodytes) of South Africa; females attain a length of 21 cm (8.3 inches). The length of the smallest scorpions, the Caribbean Microtityus fundorai, is 12 mm (0.5 inch). A few precursors of modern scorpions were comparative giants. Fossils of two species (Gigantoscorpio willsi and Brontoscorpio anglicus) measure from 35 cm (14 inches) to a metre (3.3 feet) or more, and an undescribed species is estimated to have been 90 cm (35.5 inches). Most species from deserts and other arid regions are yellowish or light brown in colour; those found in moist or mountain habitats, however, are brown or black

scorpion venom.

scorpion venom

Distribution and abundance-

In addition to desert habitats, scorpions have adapted to temperate, subtropical, and tropical environments such as grasslands, savannas, and forests. They live on all major landmasses except Greenland and Antarctica. Their range extends from Canada and central Europe to the southern tips of South America (Tierra del Fuego) and Africa, and they have been accidently introduced into New Zealand and England. Scorpions have been found at elevations from sea level to 5,000 metres (more than 16,000 feet) in mountains of Europe and North and South America. A few species live as far north as southern Canada, southern Germany, and Russia.

Deathstalker Scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus)
the Deathstalker scorpion has a dangerous sounding name, and no wonder, because it is definitely one of the most dangerous scorpions in the world. Its venom is highly toxic, and if stung, the victim will likely never forget the excruciating pain it delivers.
The symptoms of a Deathstalker sting include an increased heartbeat, high blood pressure, and even convulsions and coma. It may even cause death to small children or unhealthy adults.
It is not advisable to have these scorpions as pets. The reason why is because these scorpions are very aggressive, and become very agitated when confined in a small cage.
It is highly advised to seek medical attention if somebody gets stung by these scorpions.
It is sometimes very hard to identify them, because their color varies depending on where they live. They usually are yellow or green, and due to their elastic-like appearance, it has been pointed out that they look almost like toys.
So please make sure before you pick up a “toy” scorpion! It might not actually be a toy, but a deadly Deathstalker!

Arabian Fat-Tailed Scorpion (Androctonus crassicauda)

The Arabian Fat-Tailed Scorpion is competing with the Deathstalker for the title of most dangerous scorpion. Though I don’t know who would win in a bug vs. bug battle, I do know that it would be a close one.
A sting from these lethal scorpions can cause a number of terrible symptoms, including seizures, unconsciousness, and hypertension.
Like the previous two scorpions mentioned on this page, the people who are most in danger of dying from its sting are young children and people with heart problems. Stings are rarely fatal because most victims are able to receive the anti-venom in time. However, if victims haven’t seen medical attention within seven hours of being stung, the likelihood of death increases significantly.
Many people have confused the Arabian Fat-Tailed with the Black Fat-Tailed, claiming that they are the same species. While they do look quite similar, according to scientists they are two distinct species. One of the major differences between them is that the Arabian has larger pincers.

Three of the Most Dangerous Scorpions in the World-

Not all scorpions are created equal.
If you’ve ever gone camping in a dry climate, you’ve likely been told to check your shoes before putting them on to make sure a scorpion—or some other harmful creature—hasn’t used your hiking boots as a motel for the night.
While no one wants to find a scorpion in their shoes, doing so isn’t necessarily life-threatening. With those huge pinchers out front and a tail that’s always ready to strike at a moment’s notice, scorpions certainly look scary. But most of them aren’t capable of causing any real damage to a person.
Look at the emperor scorpion above for example. Some of them can reach up to eight inches in length. Their deep black color and size makes them appear to be a formidable species that you’d want to stay as far away from as possible, and yet, most (depends on the subspecies) aren’t much more dangerous than a typical bee sting. Scorpion stings hurt, yes, but they are usually not fatal. In fact, some people keep emperor scorpions as pets!
Now, I’m personally not sure why anybody would want a scorpion as a pet, especially when they can get up to eight inches long, but just because you get stung by a scorpion doesn’t mean you’ll die, even if it’s big, black, and ugly! That said, it’s important to know which ones can hurt you so that you know which ones to avoid. Below, you’ll find three scorpions that you should stay away from at all costs.
Types of Scorpions
Scorpions are part of the order Scorpiones and the class Arachnida. They are invertebrates that possess eight legs, and a two-segmented body composed of the cephalothorax and the abdomen. This is the classification of scorpions: Kingdom Animalia (Animals); Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods); Subphylum: Chelicerata; Class: Arachnida (Arachnids); and Order: Scorpiones (Scorpions). Current records show that there are 1,004 species known.
The largest of the scorpion families is the Buthidae with over 800 scorpion species. These live mostly in tropical, subtropical and partly in temperate habitats, except New Zealand and Antarctica.
Seventy-two scorpion species, belonging to Hemiscorpiidae, are known to inhabit all continents, particularly in tropical and subtropical habitats, with the exception of North America.
Some of the world’s largest scorpions belong to Scorpionidae family, which has approximately 240 scorpion species. Included in this family is the emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator), one of the largest scorpion species known. Another giant is the Heterometrus swammerdami, which can reach lengths of twenty centimeters.
All true scorpion species have venom to kill or paralyze prey. Effects of a scorpion sting vary for humans, since some experience nothing more than a kind of numbness due to the sting, while sensitive individuals can die from the poisonous venom.
One scorpion that should be avoided at all costs is the African Androctonus australis. It is found in Africa and the Middle East. Also known as the fat-tailed scorpion, it is lethal to humans since it kills with quantity: injecting plenty of venom into its victim.
Some of the desert scorpion species, like the desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus hirsutus), have been adopted as pets. However, this is a fairly aggressive scorpion that emits painful stings

scorpion venom.