My daughter got stung by a scorpion last night (Chandler: new house, living in)

[momtogrif]

Originally Posted by LS35a

I live in Arrowhead, and yes we have scorpions in the area. I had a lot of yard work done today, so I'm about to go hunting with the black light, the Raid, and the big stick.

Life in the desert is not all skittles and beer.

I've seen them in my house maybe 3,4 times a year, but I've never been stung. My cats start acting funny and I know they see/hear one. I never ignore the cats.

I find it weird that some areas seem to have more scorpions than others, even to be as diverse as which street in the same subdivision you reside. A friend of mine in Sierra Verde(in the Arrowhead area) would find one or two a year as did others on her street. Yet, the street behind them never seemed to have any, according to the neighbors she talked to.

I've lived in AZ for 16 yrs and have yet to be stung or see one in my home(or past homes). Of course, I was on vacation in FL 2 years ago and managed to get stung by a stingray! That thing hurt like a mother and the barb damaged my tendons and nerves in my foot. I'm thinking that a scorpion sting may be uncomfortable but I doubt it would compare to the stingray wound itself(it got terribly infected) and the venom.

I also noticed that my home does not have a lot of crickets. Our neighborhood was built on old orchards and none of my neighbors seem to have issues with scorpions. I've also been bit by a brown recluse spider and had the skin get necrotic, etc. I'm guessing that in the grand scheme of things there are worse things than being stung by a scorpion, but I'm not about to go find out, LOL!

To the OP: glad to hear that your dd recovered quickly. We have friends in VVL just on the west side of Val Vista Road and one day while I was visiting they had a scorpion in their garage crawling around. She said they get them every so often at her location.

[Stokes172]

I've spent 15 days in Phoenix and have already found one in my house. The neighbor says he hunts them in the driveway with a blacklight. My house was vacant for almost a year so I suspect it was never sprayed by an exterminator. Oddly enough that was the only insect that I found in the house.

[Axiom]

Originally Posted by momtogrif

I find it weird that some areas seem to have more scorpions than others, even to be as diverse as which street in the same subdivision you reside. A friend of mine in Sierra Verde(in the Arrowhead area) would find one or two a year as did others on her street. Yet, the street behind them never seemed to have any, according to the neighbors she talked to.

So true. I swear our house in Arrowhead Lakes was a scorpion haven. I was stung twice, my daughter was stung once, and we always had a bug jar handy to catch the darn things in. Our next door neighbor had the same problem, but friends who lived maybe 4 houses down the street said they had never even seen one of the darn things in their yard, much less their house. Go figure.

[SnakeSafetyQuestions]

Originally Posted by Stokes172

I've spent 15 days in Phoenix and have already found one in my house. The neighbor says he hunts them in the driveway with a blacklight. My house was vacant for almost a year so I suspect it was never sprayed by an exterminator. Oddly enough that was the only insect that I found in the house.

It's fairly common to have them around the house. What every person needs to do is continually keep a watch out. I agree the spry by the exterminator is important, but they can come back even only a short time later.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by SnakeSafetyQuestions

It's fairly common to have them around the house. What every person needs to do is continually keep a watch out. I agree the spry by the exterminator is important, but they can come back even only a short time later.

I will strongly disagree that it is "fairly common" to have them around the house. A review of the MANY scorpion threads on this forum will show that there are many people who have lived here for years and never seen one. Giving the impression that it is "fairly common" will only start up more "scorpion fear" threads. Spraying is not always required for pest control, and spray does not kill the scorpions, but their food sources.

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by SnakeSafetyQuestions

It's fairly common to have them around the house.

That is blantantly false. Some people may have them, but most do not.

[azjack]

"I will strongly disagree that it is "fairly common" to have them around the house. A review of the MANY scorpion threads on this forum will show that there are many people who have lived here for years and never seen one. Giving the impression that it is "fairly common" will only start up more "scorpion fear" threads."

I think that in many of the cases where one household reports regular or frequent scorpion sightings, and someone a house or two over reports none for years and years, diligence in looking is probably the major difference. Sure, how well doors are sealed and the presence of insectide is important. But all things being relatively equal, some people just watch for them more carefully. I have been the first to see every inside and outside scorpion ever spotted at houses in north Phoenix, Surprise, and Glendale because I simply modified my diligence for avoiding spider bites to include these things. I honestly think that it is unrealistic to conclude that this hardy species is absent from any Maricopa County subdivision.

Obviously, to the extent that they appear more frequently, more should be done to kill them around a house.

[PhoenixAirConcerns]

Originally Posted by azjack

I think that in many of the cases where one household reports regular or frequent scorpion sightings, and someone a house or two over reports none for years and years, diligence in looking is probably the major difference. Sure, how well doors are sealed and the presence of insectide is important. But all things being relatively equal, some people just watch for them more carefully. I have been the first to see every inside and outside scorpion ever spotted at houses in north Phoenix, Surprise, and Glendale because I simply modified my diligence for avoiding spider bites to include these things. I honestly think that it is unrealistic to conclude that this hardy species is absent from any Maricopa County subdivision.

Obviously, to the extent that they appear more frequently, more should be done to kill them around a house.

I always make sure we check our shoes, and also being careful when lifting up clothes or looking underneath sofas. We once found one in our stereo speaker. Don't ask me how it got in there.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by azjack

I think that in many of the cases where one household reports regular or frequent scorpion sightings, and someone a house or two over reports none for years and years, diligence in looking is probably the major difference. Sure, how well doors are sealed and the presence of insectide is important. But all things being relatively equal, some people just watch for them more carefully. I have been the first to see every inside and outside scorpion ever spotted at houses in north Phoenix, Surprise, and Glendale because I simply modified my diligence for avoiding spider bites to include these things. I honestly think that it is unrealistic to conclude that this hardy species is absent from any Maricopa County subdivision.

Obviously, to the extent that they appear more frequently, more should be done to kill them around a house.

We will have to agree to disagree, then. I still think there is WAY too much paranoia about scorpions (and spiders) on this forum. I've never seen anything like the conversations that go on here, having lived here over 50 years. Out there in real conversation, scorpions are not a topic of conversation.

[lauramc27]

Originally Posted by observer53

We will have to agree to disagree, then. I still think there is WAY too much paranoia about scorpions (and spiders) on this forum. I've never seen anything like the conversations that go on here, having lived here over 50 years. Out there in real conversation, scorpions are not a topic of conversation.

I do have to say, when I first started reading this thread I got a bit scared about our move to Chandler. But after reading posts like yours from people that have lived in Arizona for many years and have never seen a scorpion I am a bit releaved. I do understand that making sure doors and cracks are sealed is very important. I have a 9 year old daughter and will have to have the talk with her to just be aware. Thank goodness my husband has been living in the house we rented since April and he has yet to see a black widow or a scorpion.