Are Scorpions In Austin As Dangerous As They Look?
Austin scorpions look like trouble, but how dangerous are they really? What a sting actually means and how to keep them out.
Read post →People are wired to find some creatures adorable and others unsettling. Show someone a photo of a puppy or a hamster and they melt. Show them a scorpion and the reaction is very different. There is something about a multi-legged animal with a stinger that puts everyone on edge. To help you get a better read on the scorpions here in Austin, here are the answers to the questions we hear every day.
Are Scorpions Arachnids?
They are. Scorpions belong to the class Arachnida, which makes them close cousins of spiders, and they carry the family traits: two distinct body segments, a cephalothorax and an abdomen, no wings, no antennae, more than two eyes, and six pairs of appendages. In spiders, one of those pairs is the fangs; in scorpions, it is the pinchers.
Are All Scorpions Venomous?
Every scorpion carries venom, but that is not the same as every scorpion being dangerous. For the species you are likely to meet around Austin homes, a sting brings pain and symptoms no worse than a wasp sting: a genuinely bad time, not a medical emergency. The exception to keep in mind is the bark scorpion group, whose stings can be far more painful and can bring on serious symptoms including nausea, difficulty breathing, muscle twitching, drooling, sweating, an accelerated heart rate, and unusual head, neck, and eye movements. If a sting is followed by symptoms like those, seek medical attention immediately. For a closer look at which species actually live around Austin, see our post on how dangerous Austin scorpions really are.
What Do Scorpions Eat?
Scorpions are carnivores. Their menu is insects, arthropods, and other arachnids, and hunting is one of the main reasons they come indoors in the first place. If pests are crawling through your living areas scavenging for crumbs, scorpions have a reason to follow them in.
What Should You Do If You Encounter A Scorpion?
Not every scorpion is dangerous, but it is wise to treat each one as if it were until you know for certain. One thing worth knowing: scorpions do not go out of their way to attack people. They sting when they feel trapped or threatened, and that is about it. If one crosses your path outside, keep your distance and let it move on. If one turns up indoors, here is the sequence we recommend:
- Do not corner it. A scorpion that feels trapped is the one that stings.
- Seal off the room. Close the door and keep pets and kids out. Some homeowners shoo one out the door with a long broom or trap it under a cardboard box, but both put your hands closer to the stinger than they need to be.
- Call a professional. This keeps your odds of a sting near zero and starts you down the road to keeping scorpions out of the house for good.
When Is It Time To Call The Professionals For Scorpion Problems?
At Accurate Termite and Pest Control, the whole point of our work is safeguarding clients from the dangers pests bring. Come across a scorpion inside the house and the smart move is to keep your hands off it entirely. Our team has the advanced training, safety equipment, and industry-leading tools to deal with scorpions properly, and our long-term home protection plans keep a wide range of pests out of your living areas. If the scorpions keep coming back, our scorpion control service gets at the reason why.
Call us today at (512) 267-0812 to learn more about our comprehensive, affordable pest control services, or get in touch online for a free estimate.
