Common Striped Scorpion

From Arizona to Mississippi and from Kansas down into Mexico
This is the most common and widespread scorpion in North America and often found indoors. Most reactions include intense burning, swelling and numbness for several hours.

The Common Striped Scorpion is one kind of scorpion. Scorpions are found mostly in the southwest U.S., but as far north as Canada. These scary creatures can rip apart cockroaches with their powerful front pincers and can use their stingers to strike and kill small reptiles in seconds. There are many kinds of scorpions and all of them will attack in self defense, but they'd much rather be left alone. Most kinds of scorpions in North America deliver stings that are painful like a wasp or bee sting, but not dangerous unless you are allergic. Only the bark scorpion found in Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico is a dangerous threat to life and health. Scorpions can be as small as 3/4 inch (2 cm) or as large as 4 inches (10 cm) yet it is not the size of a scorpion, but the size of the pincers, that matters. Scorpions with large powerful pincers, use them to crush prey and don't need such deadly venom. Scorpions with tinier pincers can't crush prey as well, so their sting is more toxic. They hunt at night and kill their prey by grasping it with their front pincers while thrusting their tails over their heads and impaling the victims with their stingers.

Prevention
If you are camping in the southwest U.S., check for scorpions hiding under natural and manmade objects. Always check inside your shoes, clothing, sleeping bags and other equipment where they might have crawled to avoid daylight. Around houses, they hide in crawl spaces and in attics if its not too hot. If you find one in your house, look for others by shining an untraviolet light at night. If any scorpions are around they will glow brightly in the ultraviolet light. Look in places where they might have gone to find water like kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. They are often found in sinks and tubs, unable to climb back up the slippery sides. Scorpions are virtually unaffected by most pesticides. Professional exterminators will need to be called in if you have an infestation. If you find them outside where they are not a threat to you, you should not harm them because they are valuable in controlling insect pests.

Reaction
As with bee and wasp stings, there is immediate sharp burning pain. Usually there is swelling and sometimes numbness and an itchy welt. The site is often tender and sensitive to hot and cold. Usually the symptoms end without complications, but there can be enlarged lymph nodes, fever, imagined sensations, nausea and vomiting for a few hours.  If the victim is allergic to the venom there can be a severe systemic reaction.  If the sting is given by a bark scorpion one should immediately seek medical attention as their sting can be much more serious, even fatal.

Treatment
If it stings, capture and kill the scorpion for identification purposes, and call a medical clinic or Poison Control Centre immediately. If the scorpion is a bark scorpion or the victim has a severe allergic reaction (see page 48 of the book) seek medical attention at once. If it is the most common and non-dangerous reaction, wash wound with soap and water, apply antiseptic and ice, and elevate the affected area.