# Geez, I hate scorpions!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 13, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838 "2009-07-13T05:59:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/21 "2009-07-14T00:35:17Z")
Okay, show of hands…who else moved their chair and checked all around your legs and feet when reading the OP? > [@FallenAngel](#): > > 14 years and still no stings, knock wood. Don’t knock too hard. Scorpions might fall out. ---
**Author:** ![bartleby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bartleby/32/10491_2.png) [@bartleby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bartleby)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/22 "2009-07-14T13:37:21Z")
I just dropped in to say that whilst scanning past, i REALLY thought that the title was’ “Geez, I hate my scrotum!!!” carry on… ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/23 "2009-07-14T16:40:28Z")
Eh, I’m a virgo myself, so I usually get along decently well with scorpios. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/24 "2009-07-14T19:28:28Z")
> [@bartleby](#): > > I just dropped in to say that whilst scanning past, i REALLY thought that the title was’ “Geez, I hate my scrotum!!!” > > carry on… Just remember, scrotums and scorpions don’t mix! ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/25 "2009-07-14T20:15:09Z")
In the Phoenix area there are some places (thankfully, not where we live) that have hordes of the damn citters all over their houses. They come out most often at night, so nobody ever walks around at night barefoot. I’ve read that in these places, if you turn on a flashlght the floors are covered with them. So, you are lucky not have more. Muy advice is to get one or more cats. Most (but not all) cats are immune to the scorpion venom, and besides, they like to eat them. We have only had a very few times in 15 years here that any appeared in our house. One or both of our cats ate them. Oddly enough, they just ate the body, so all we found were the little legs spread out on the floor. i love me cats. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/26 "2009-07-14T20:28:25Z")
Given that they [flouresce](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/az1223/Bark-scorpion-UV.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/az1223/&usg=__0T9O8rPUMBiNg05Zk8wAfldXaS8=&h=154&w=216&sz=6&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=Rl9xOMdu6QsYAM:&tbnh=76&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darizona%2Bbark%2Bspider%2Bfluorescence%2Buv%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1), if they’re that prevalent I believe I’d have a black light handy at night. ETA: Heh, the link typo’d it as ultra-violate light. ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/27 "2009-07-14T20:34:14Z")
The scorpions in Texas aren’t dangerous. Some of the ones in Arizona are, though. Keep in mind they generally “travel” in pairs, the male usually slimmer than the female. I never got stung in El Paso, where they are rampant. We even didn’t mind having a vinegaroon in the house, since they feed on scorpions. I’m a little disturbed that you are in San Antonio–I didn’t know we had the little monsters that far south. I better keep my eyes peeled. Hope you’re feeling better. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/28 "2009-07-14T21:52:09Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > Horrible! I am so glad there are no scorpions in Virginia! Incorrect. There are scorpions in most U.S. states, Virginia included - in your state, specifically [this one](http://bugguide.net/node/view/2447/bgpage). There are also scorpions in southern Canada. There just aren’t any _dangerous_ scorpions in most of these places ( the only potential exception has already been listed ). > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Um, yeah. Seek medical attention. Probably not necessary. In most of the U.S. ( Texas included ) scorpions aren’t particularly dangerous - some of them have less obvious impact than a bee sting. The biggest danger, as with bee stings, is usually anaphylaxis. If you show any signs of this ( or are known to be predisposed ) then an emergency room trip might be in order. Otherwise, probably not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![stanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@stanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanger)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/29 "2009-07-14T22:08:24Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > Just remember, scrotums and scorpions don’t mix! That was part of my concern at the time. He had stung me twice lightly just above the sock, but had then crawled up my leg and stung me good just below the knee. Part of my haste in getting out of my jeans was to prevent the bastard from getting his stinger any farther north. I guess the dry weather and drought has brought them out. I have been living out here off and on for over forty years now, and seldom see a snake unless I go turning rocks over and looking for them. Last week, I found a corral snake while walking to my workshop one morning. A couple of days later, I open the garage door to find a five foot Texas Rat Snake resting beside it. Quite impressive first thing in the morning. The Rat Snake I carefully shooed away, but the corral snake died. ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/30 "2009-07-15T02:16:26Z")
Scorpions may be my most feared animal, though I don’t have much of a phobia to any animals really. Still, I’m happy to say they’re very rare around here. I’ve only encountered them in the wild two or three times in my life. I’ve never been stung by one, but I have been stung by the marine equivalent, a sting ray. I haven’t been in the ocean since. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/31 "2009-07-15T15:19:39Z")
> [@stanger](#): > > Last week, I found a corral snake while walking to my workshop one morning. I assume you mean a [coral snake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_snake)? Or is corral snake a name I’m not familiar with for some other species? ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/32 "2009-07-16T02:18:27Z")
> [@Justin\_Credible](#): > > Okay, show of hands…who else moved their chair and checked all around your legs and feet when reading the OP? I can relate. I just heard a little skritchy noise somewhere behind my computer desk as I read this. Along the wall. Well hidden by tables, cables, and all sorts of hanging wires. Not very convenient to access. You know the sound a dragonfly makes when it only “sort of” buzzes its wings before it gets ready for takeoff? You know the sound of a large fat beetle falling down onto a tile floor and skritching around trying to get back to its feet? \*Something \*back there just made a sound like that. Well, not \*just \*like that, but close enough. I will not succumb to fear and move everything to check out that something isn’t there, but my feet are now on the legs of my chair instead of flat on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838/33 "2009-07-16T20:05:19Z")
> [@BigNik](#): > > My parents had a holiday home in an area just North of Sydney. > > Permit me to attest to the fact that just because you know to bang the heel and then shake out your shoes before putting them on in no way prepares you for a \*\*funnel-web spider \*\*falling out of them when you do. I had not heard of this species before, and so looked it up on Wikipedia just now. > [@](#): > > Sydney funnel-webs are medium-to-large in size, with a body length ranging from 2 cm to 7 cm (0.9" to 3"). … > … > The spider is highly aggressive if provoked. …They are attracted to water and hence are often found in swimming pools where they have fallen while wandering. The spiders can survive such immersion for up to twenty-four hours and can deliver a bite when removed from the water.[ > … > The Sydney funnel-web spider is found **only** within a radius of about 100 km of the city. > … > The Sydney funnel-web spider is one of the most dangerous spiders in the world and will defend itself aggressively if threatened or frightened. For this reason, humans are strongly advised not to approach them. Chances of being bitten are high if encountered, and [URL=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider\_bite”]bites](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_funnel-web_spider#cite_note-4) can be lethal within 40 minutes if not treated. So it basically lives (and ONLY lives) within the metropolitan area of Australia’s largest city, lurks in swimming pools, is aggressive to people and is toxic enough to cause death in under an hour if not treated. Egads! :eek: In hindsight, couldn’t they just have built Sydney another 150 km away from its selected location (50 extra just to be safe)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geez-i-hate-scorpions/502838.md?page=1)