last night I captured a tiny scorpion in the hall bath. We live in the high desert of southern california and this is the first one I have seen on our property since moving in 23 years ago. I know they are here, but did NOT expect to see one in the house. I was reluctant to tell my wife but thought it would be best so she could be on the lookout for any more. I cannot figgure out how it got in the bathtub, since it could not get OUT. My real concern is there likely could be more of the little buggers!
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found a baby scorpion in the bathtub
- Thread starter anoblefox
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I once removed the overflow cover on my bathtub because it was corroded. I left it like that for a night before going to store to get a new one. This let the flange behind the wall move back a little and when I got up the next morning and went to the bathroom bare footed there lay a half grown copperhead coiled up close to my bare feet. I killed it and then took a flash light and searched under every piece of furniture in the house afraid there was others.
Needless to say I fixed the bathtub overflow cover quickly. I hope I don't have to go under my house for anything.
Needless to say I fixed the bathtub overflow cover quickly. I hope I don't have to go under my house for anything.
Baby scorpion
Some years ago I was on a Boy Scout campout with my
son.Sunday morning by the campfire I felt a sharp pain on my
ankle but couldn't find anything wrong.A while later I
felt a similar pain on my shin,after another 1/2 hour
or so another on my calf.After several more over the next
couple of hours,each progressively higher I finally
excused myself,took my jeans off & found a minuscule
scorpion on my upper thigh.It had crawled up my boot
that morning & worked it's way up my leg,stinging
me every time my jeans restricted it.A story that makes
me appear insensitive or downright stupid but true
nonetheless.The little ones sting,just not very hard.
Regards,
turnerriver
Some years ago I was on a Boy Scout campout with my
son.Sunday morning by the campfire I felt a sharp pain on my
ankle but couldn't find anything wrong.A while later I
felt a similar pain on my shin,after another 1/2 hour
or so another on my calf.After several more over the next
couple of hours,each progressively higher I finally
excused myself,took my jeans off & found a minuscule
scorpion on my upper thigh.It had crawled up my boot
that morning & worked it's way up my leg,stinging
me every time my jeans restricted it.A story that makes
me appear insensitive or downright stupid but true
nonetheless.The little ones sting,just not very hard.
Regards,
turnerriver
cass
Member
Scorpions have large hatches. There's a lot more where he came from. We have a big problem with them where I hunt in West TEXAS. (One got me several times on the right cheek in the middle of the night). I'd suggest getting a black light and can of bug spray. After dark, use the light to locate them - they really stand out under the black light.
diamonback68
US Veteran
I have them coming in the house quite often. Most are only 1 1/2" to 2"ers, but you just need to be on the lookout for them, usually running across the rug. None have ever bitten me though.
cowboy117
Member
Always turn over boots,shoes,ect. before putting on!
DOEBOY1
Member
While I was a App state unv my zoology professor studied scorpians. He told me you could freeze a scorpian and slowly thaw it out and it would not kill it. I wanted to go on the scorpian collecting trip in arizona but didn't have the money. He would use a black light to catch them because they will floures in the dark. good luck finding them. Doeboy
Superflywimpy
Member
I got 2 last night
Last night when I came home from dinner out, I grabbed the black light and went to the back yard. Within 2 minutes I found 2. A small 1 incher and a grown 2.5 incher with babies on it's back. I killed them all using a old wooden handled BBQ brush I keep in the back yard just for that reason. Stuff your weep holes in your window with copper wool or they will get in. Seal around doors,if you can see light through a closed door they can squeeze through. Go get some foam strips.
Last night when I came home from dinner out, I grabbed the black light and went to the back yard. Within 2 minutes I found 2. A small 1 incher and a grown 2.5 incher with babies on it's back. I killed them all using a old wooden handled BBQ brush I keep in the back yard just for that reason. Stuff your weep holes in your window with copper wool or they will get in. Seal around doors,if you can see light through a closed door they can squeeze through. Go get some foam strips.
ACP230
Member
We have a lot of snow in the U.P., but no scorpions.
A good trade-off, IMO.
A good trade-off, IMO.
I was just a tad at the time, but I clearly remember my maternal grandfather, a retired miner in Bisbee, Arizona, instructing me on the proper way to put shoes on your feet. First, he explained, was to hold the shoe upright, heel down, and bang it on the floor several times. After finding no scorpions dislodged from within, it would be safe to put on the shoe. I follow that practice to this day. Here in Arizona, scorpions are common throughout the state, and easily find access to homes.
Every now and then, I also find a scorpion in the tub. I believe they come up through the drain. I make it a point to check the tub thoroughly before turning on the water and getting in to take a shower. I will occasionally find one scuttling across the floor, and believe me, they move fast. If you're not wearing shoes, get one fast to whack it.
About 5 years ago I found one in the tub and made the mistake of trying to crush it with some wadded-up toilet paper. The little monster stung me on a finger of my right hand, and the pain was excruciating. I had to go to work, and part of my job at the time was working a computer. It was next to impossible because that finger was so numb. I could feel the poison working its way up my arm. It took me a little over a week for the numbness to go away.
About a week ago, the new quarterback for our Arizona Cardinals, Matt Lineart, was stung on the neck by a scorpion in his home. I guess he's tougher than most; he continued practice with his team.
I have seen scorpions crawl upside down on the ceiling. This is particularly scary, because they can drop down on your bed while you are sleeping. This is NOT a good thing.
Dogs are particularly susceptible to scorpion stings, as they love to bite at the insects. About 3 years ago, our dog Joe, who was then just a puppy, had an encounter. Here is the result. Thankfully, when we put him on an antihistamine for a couple of days, the swelling went down. He was a brave little fella.
Every now and then, I also find a scorpion in the tub. I believe they come up through the drain. I make it a point to check the tub thoroughly before turning on the water and getting in to take a shower. I will occasionally find one scuttling across the floor, and believe me, they move fast. If you're not wearing shoes, get one fast to whack it.
About 5 years ago I found one in the tub and made the mistake of trying to crush it with some wadded-up toilet paper. The little monster stung me on a finger of my right hand, and the pain was excruciating. I had to go to work, and part of my job at the time was working a computer. It was next to impossible because that finger was so numb. I could feel the poison working its way up my arm. It took me a little over a week for the numbness to go away.
About a week ago, the new quarterback for our Arizona Cardinals, Matt Lineart, was stung on the neck by a scorpion in his home. I guess he's tougher than most; he continued practice with his team.
I have seen scorpions crawl upside down on the ceiling. This is particularly scary, because they can drop down on your bed while you are sleeping. This is NOT a good thing.
Dogs are particularly susceptible to scorpion stings, as they love to bite at the insects. About 3 years ago, our dog Joe, who was then just a puppy, had an encounter. Here is the result. Thankfully, when we put him on an antihistamine for a couple of days, the swelling went down. He was a brave little fella.
OK, I noticed you stated you captured the tiny scorpion. So did you catch & release? Is there a season on them in your area? Most people would just stomp them into mush.
Please remember that a lot of things fall into places they cannot get out of. I been told I had a great uncle that fell into a vat where they were making beer. Others tried for an hour to pull him out but it was said he just could not be helped. There was so much alcohol in his system that when he was cremated, his ashed burned for a week solid. Just fell into something he could not get out of.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
Would you send it to me??? I can have some fun with it.
Rugskipper
Member
When we first moved into our home within the first week I captured ~40 medium to large scorpions inside our house. It seemed like a problem the first two years and every time they built a new house close by we'd get a few more of them. I'd be outside and occasionally see scorpions, snakes, frogs, packs of coyotes and wild dogs, deer and you name it... The land behind our home has cattle, horses, and turkeys -yes- turkeys. It's been a few years no new homes have been built thanks to the economy, but I spray the yard and perimeter of the house every couple of months to keep my little ones safe.
With all the wildlife around my home the scorpions were never a big deal especially since there sting is comparable to a bee sting. I still capture a few every now and then with my needle nose pliers and watch them sting the pliers and themselves to death.
With all the wildlife around my home the scorpions were never a big deal especially since there sting is comparable to a bee sting. I still capture a few every now and then with my needle nose pliers and watch them sting the pliers and themselves to death.
At least this specimen was apparently attempting to maintain high personal hygiene standards --- now, those you find in other bathroom vessels are despicable. Centroides Sculpturatus, the small, pale, ubiquitous, very toxic "bark" scorpion found here has great affinity for moisture and interstitial spaces such as stacked or layered building materials. Towels lost by "tubers" on the Lower Salt River, often shelter these nasty arthropods, as they provide a moist hiding space. Any moist fabric left on the ground or indoors is apt to attract them. Check that bathmat carefully!
DOEBOY1
Member
In college I had a roommate that was particually scared of my african scorpion. He was very feminine acting a good guy but very soft headed. I think his mother brow beat him too much. Anyway I had my scorpion in a 10 gallon fish tank and my roommate ask that we move the tank to the other side of the room so he could sleep. So on one of my breaks back east my best friend had a scorpion that died and my friend not taking the time to throw it out left it for sometime til all that was there was a shell. I took this shell back to our room and placed it on my room mates bed with a piece of paper off his desk. I went across the hall and waited. When my roommate can back I told him a girl came by and left a note on his bed. After quizing me for the longest time as to who she was my patients ran out and I told him she probably signed the note. He picked up the paper and flipped it 4 time to see there was nothing written on it. he looked at me like I was crazy and then looked down on his bed. When he saw that scorpion he screamed and to this day I don't think I have ever heard a scream so screal and loud coming from a man. Me and the neighbors laughed so hard we couldn't stand up tears were running down our faces and my roommate was so mad he wouldn't speak to me for two days. He wouldn't sleep in his bed that night the only place he would sleep was in my pompason chair. I felt bad about it for a few seconds but that went by the wayside fairly quickly. At night I would turn on the black light and my room mate would lay in his bunk and swear that the scorpian was watching him sleep. Finally when I got married and moved in with my wife my scorpion only lived a week or so and a had slight chlorox smell to the tank. My wife said she had nothing to do with his dimise but she sure was glad he was dead. may he rip. Doeboy
FlYFiShErMaN
US Veteran
I have killed 4 in our home over the years. None of them have hurt anyone, but I sure don't like the dang things. They were all executed.
Two of them were ceiling walkers........right next to canister lights in our den. I know, I thought the same thing about falling in bed with you.
Two of them were ceiling walkers........right next to canister lights in our den. I know, I thought the same thing about falling in bed with you.
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LennyLames
Member
If seen in a tub, it may have dropped out of the light fixture or the exhaust fan. Entry point may be far from where they are eventually spotted since, as someone mentioned, they can climb walls.
We've only seen them inside the house in the summer. Winters are probably too frigid, and the snow too deep for them We average about 7 to 8 indoor sightings a year.
A couple of weeks ago, I stepped on one in the dark. Inside, I walk around wearing socks. I thought it was a small twig at first, but when I turned on the light, it turned out to be a bark scorpion.
Our regular pest control guy said I was lucky not to have been stung. When I told him I took it outside, he looked at me incredulously and asked, "You didn't actually let it go, did you?" Sometimes I wonder about how effective a pest control guy he is, since he supposedly treats the house for scorpions.
The sting can be life-threatening to small kids, which we have.
When I see one, I cover it with an upside-down jar, then slip an envelope underneath. Then I manipulate it until I can secure its tail with a pair of locking surgical tweezers. Then I take it outside, hang it from a shrub, pace out ten yards, then shoot it with a match air pistol. Sometimes, when I'm feeling lazy, I just lay it out in the front porch or back patio and the birds eventually get their protein.
We've only seen them inside the house in the summer. Winters are probably too frigid, and the snow too deep for them
We average about 7 to 8 indoor sightings a year.A couple of weeks ago, I stepped on one in the dark. Inside, I walk around wearing socks. I thought it was a small twig at first, but when I turned on the light, it turned out to be a bark scorpion.
Our regular pest control guy said I was lucky not to have been stung. When I told him I took it outside, he looked at me incredulously and asked, "You didn't actually let it go, did you?" Sometimes I wonder about how effective a pest control guy he is, since he supposedly treats the house for scorpions.
The sting can be life-threatening to small kids, which we have.
When I see one, I cover it with an upside-down jar, then slip an envelope underneath. Then I manipulate it until I can secure its tail with a pair of locking surgical tweezers. Then I take it outside, hang it from a shrub, pace out ten yards, then shoot it with a match air pistol. Sometimes, when I'm feeling lazy, I just lay it out in the front porch or back patio and the birds eventually get their protein.
LVSteve
Member
My bug man reckoned that unless your spray came from Dugway, don't bother using it on scorpions. They will probably just snort it like crack. A brick makes a much better weapon. Spraying your yard and house knocks down the things that the scorpions eat, so they eventually go elsewhere. Not having any children, dogs or cats also means I also get lots of help from the bird and lizard fraternities in keeping the yard clear of baddies.
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