Bark Scorpion Sting

AZ Jim

AZ Jim

R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
Location
SURPRISE, ARIZONA
Last night at 11 pm I was stung by a bark scorpion in my bedroom. He got me on my right foot big toe. I didn't catch him so he's still here. Anyone living in the deserts of California, Arizona, New Mexico or Nevada has them whether they know it or not. They come into our homes to escape summer heat and for water. I got complacent and paid for it. I did not sleep last night due to pain, then it hit my joints, muscles and vision. I am over most symptoms except for chills. Bark Scorpions can kill some victims but most have degrees of pain depending on how much venom is issued. If you live in these areas keep your eyes and blue lights busy and read up on how to minimize the threat. I've lived in these deserts for 20 years and have been stung twice (this time was by far the worst).
 

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Ouch, Jim! That's terrible :( How long do the effects of the bites last? Do you have someone touching base with you periodically? Someone who can alert EMS if need be? Hope you have a better night tonight.
 
AnnieA said:
Ouch, Jim! That's terrible :( How long do the effects of the bites last? Do you have someone touching base with you periodically? Someone who can alert EMS if need be? Hope you have a better night tonight.
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This started at 11PM so I didn't notify until this morning. Then I told a neighbor who has a key to my place just in case. He has called since to check on me.
 

I remember telling my (then #2) wife to shake out her pants, after she left them outside our tent in a Texas State Park. She told me I was being ridiculous. Ten seconds later...."Ow!!!!!" She tore those pants off, shook them, and Mr. Scorpion went skittering away.

AJ, feel better, soon. Never let your guard down. Use a flashlight if you're walking around your place in the dark. Shake out all slippers/shoes, and any clothing that's been on the floor. Be careful getting in the tub or shower.

Please keep us regularly updated on how you're feeling. Some folks can have reactions to those stings further down the line than others, from what I've been told.
 
treeguy64 said:
I remember telling my (then #2) wife to shake out her pants, after she left them outside our tent in a Texas State Park. She told me I was being ridiculous. Ten seconds later...."Ow!!!!!" She tore those pants off, shook them, and Mr. Scorpion went skittering away.

AJ, feel better, soon. Never let your guard down. Use a flashlight if you're walking around your place in the dark. Shake out all slippers/shoes, and any clothing that's been on the floor. Be careful getting in the tub or shower.

Please keep us regularly updated on how you're feeling. Some folks can have reactions to those stings further down the line than others, from what I've been told.
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I still have some symptoms but nothing like earlier. That little bastard really did a job on me. I was stung a couple of years ago but it was nothing like this time. My departed wife was stung about 4 years ago and she was really hurt also.
 
Those are scary symptoms. Glad it wasn't life threatening.
I'm not in the desert but after finding a couple of large Black Widows in the house this summer, I check my sandals before putting them on - especially in the middle of the night. Powerful flashlight next to the bed.

Same thing when I go outside at night. Last summer, I found something interesting outside - An Austrailian Redback Spider. Looks like a Black Widow but the Red mark is on the top. I couldn't figure out what it was, so I read up on it. They're not native to CA, so they probably got here in luggage, cargo or maybe in a plane. They are related to the Black Widow, but their venom is much worse & it damages the kidneys on the way out.
 
win231 said:
Those are scary symptoms. Glad it wasn't life threatening.
I'm not in the desert but after finding a couple of large Black Widows in the house this summer, I check my sandals before putting them on - especially in the middle of the night. Powerful flashlight next to the bed.

Same thing when I go outside at night. Last summer, I found something interesting outside - An Austrailian Redback Spider. Looks like a Black Widow but the Red mark is on the top. I couldn't figure out what it was, so I read up on it. They're not native to CA, so they probably got here in luggage, cargo or maybe in a plane. They are related to the Black Widow, but their venom is much worse & it damages the kidneys on the way out.
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You definitely should report such findings to the proper authorities. Invasive species can be eliminated if caught in time. Usually, the containment window closes very quickly. I hope you did not let that spider go on its way. While I'm an animal rights kind of guy, invasive species in my profession have often created huge problems in the areas they've penetrated. I'd hate to think a new, highly toxic spider, is quietly setting up shop in CA.
 
Scorpions can only be killed with a hammer. Pest control doesn't work.
What will help is to completely seal the house from the outside so they can't get in. Then spray for crickets. Crickets are their favorite food - no food and they will hunt elsewhere.

A blacklight will make a scorpion glow in the dark. Helps to find and smash them.
Cats and chickens love to eat scorpions and are immune to the poison.
 
Oh Jim as if you didn't have enough to deal with
right now, I hope that it goes down soon.

Here we only have bees and wasps to worry about,
vinegar on those stings is supposed to be good, do
you have any "Old Wife's" or "Home" remedies for
that sting that you got? Sometimes they are better
than what the doctor tells you.

Mike.
 
win231 said:
Those are scary symptoms. Glad it wasn't life threatening.
I'm not in the desert but after finding a couple of large Black Widows in the house this summer, I check my sandals before putting them on - especially in the middle of the night. Powerful flashlight next to the bed.

Same thing when I go outside at night. Last summer, I found something interesting outside - An Austrailian Redback Spider. Looks like a Black Widow but the Red mark is on the top. I couldn't figure out what it was, so I read up on it. They're not native to CA, so they probably got here in luggage, cargo or maybe in a plane. They are related to the Black Widow, but their venom is much worse & it damages the kidneys on the way out.
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You are not very likely to encounter a red back inside the house. They like somewhere near water such a garden tap and underneath the rim of plastic pot plants. Wood heaps and stacks of bricks make excellent habitat for them. Their web is very untidy and very tough. If you run a stick through a messy web and you can feel resistance, it is probably a red back. Spray the web with insecticide and the spider will drop out. Easy to tread on them to finish them off.

The spider you saw was probably female because the males are rather small and insignificant. Check where you found her for an egg sack about the size of pea. You must deal with it if there is one.
 
Like the others, hoping you are doing better today Jim. That's terrible!
Lived around scorpions, tarantulas and black widow spiders in Phoenix for years. Just lucky to never have had a bad encounter with any of them.

The black light to find any in your home sounds like a great idea.
Also a cat .... maybe you can get one on loan for a while if you don't want to owe one.
 
Warrigal said:
You are not very likely to encounter a red back inside the house. They like somewhere near water such a garden tap and underneath the rim of plastic pot plants. Wood heaps and stacks of bricks make excellent habitat for them. Their web is very untidy and very tough. If you run a stick through a messy web and you can feel resistance, it is probably a red back. Spray the web with insecticide and the spider will drop out. Easy to tread on them to finish them off.

The spider you saw was probably female because the males are rather small and insignificant. Check where you found her for an egg sack about the size of pea. You must deal with it if there is one.
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Thanks for the info. Now that you mentioned it, I saw her under the eaves of the roof. I remember thinking; "What a strange web - it's just a big tangle." And there was a pea-sized egg sac next to her. It's still there, but after spraying Raid on everything, it hasn't shown any sign of life.

A few times when taking out the trash at night, I've seen Black Widows hanging under the edge of the trash can - right where I grab the handle. Without my light, I'd never see them, but they'd sure let me know they were there.....
 
win231 said:
Thanks for the info. Now that you mentioned it, I saw her under the eaves of the roof. I remember thinking; "What a strange web - it's just a big tangle." And there was a pea-sized egg sac next to her. It's still there, but after spraying Raid on everything, it hasn't shown any sign of life.

A few times when taking out the trash at night, I've seen Black Widows hanging under the edge of the trash can - right where I grab the handle. Without my light, I'd never see them, but they'd sure let me know they were there.....
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the dark. Helps to find and smash them.
Cats and chickens love to eat scorpions and are immune to the poison.
[/QUOTE]
 

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