Humans are programmed to find certain things cute and other things scary. Although life experience can influence what we like and don’t like, there is a general view that most people share. For instance, if you were shown pictures of baby dogs, cats, and hamsters you would probably find them adorable. If you were shown a scorpion, on the other hand, you wouldn’t feel the same way. There is something inherently creepy about these multi-legged, stinging pests. To help you better understand scorpions here in Austin, here are answers to some questions we hear every day.
Are Scorpions Arachnids?
Scorpions are classified under the family of Arachnida and they share several similarities to their close cousin, the spider. What makes them arachnids? Well, scorpions have two distinct body segments, a cephalothorax, and an abdomen. They also lack wings, do not have antennae, have more than two eyes, and have six pairs of appendages which include their fangs or, in the case of scorpions, pinchers.
Are All Scorpions Venemous?
All scorpions have venom, however, not all scorpions are dangerous to humans. In our area, there are four distinct species of scorpions, three of which don’t pose any serious risk to human health. A sting from one of these three pests elicits symptoms and pain no worse than a wasp sting. A sting from the Arizona bark scorpion, however, is much more painful and often comes with more serious symptoms including nausea, difficulty breathing, muscle twitching, drooling, sweating, accelerated heart rate, and unusual head, neck, and eye movements. If you are stung by this pest, seek medical attention immediately to minimize symptoms and lower your risk of more serious injury.
What Do Scorpions Eat?
Scorpions are carnivores. They live on a diet of insects, arthropods, and other arachnids. One of the main reasons scorpions invade homes is to hunt. If pests are crawling around in your living areas scavenging for food or just generally being an annoyance, scorpions will be more likely to invade.
What Should You Do If You Encounter A Scorpion?
Not all scorpions are dangerous. But it is wise to treat them as if they are until you know for certain. One thing you should know about these pests is that they do not go out of their way to attack humans. The only time they sting is if they feel trapped or threatened. If you cross a scorpion’s path, keep your distance and let it do its thing. As for what you should do if you find one of these pests indoors, different people take different approaches. Some use a long broom to shoo it out a nearby door back outside where it belongs. Others try to trap it using a cardboard box. We recommend sealing off the room you find it in and giving a professional a call. This minimizes your chances of being stung and is likely to put you on a road to keeping these pests out of your home indefinitely.
When Is It Time To Call The Professionals For Scorpion Problems?
At Accurate Termite & Pest Control, our main goal is to safeguard our clients against the dangers of pests. If you find a scorpion inside your Austin home, do not try to handle it on your own. Instead, let our team help. We have the advanced training, safety equipment, and industry-leading tools needed to properly handle pests like scorpions. We also offer long-term home protection plans to exclude a large range of pests from coming into your living areas.
Call us today and learn more about our comprehensive offerings and affordable pest control services.