WalMart Scorpion Stings Child

A scorpion hiding in the watermelons at a West Virgina Wal-Mart stung the unsuspecting hand of a twelve year-old child. Apparently the scorpion had hitched a ride on the watermelons, which reportedly came from Mexico. This according to MSNBC news.

This is not the first instance of a scorpion found in a place that you would never expect one. In a recent Associated Content article entitled, "What it Feels Like to be Stung by a Scorpion " the author describes a scorpion that fell from the ceiling and bit him on the neck.

The twelve year-old girl was not seriously injured and has since recovered. Scorpions are usually found in warm, dry climates such as those in the southwestern United States and much of Mexico. They are very tough creatures and can live for some time in temperatures colder than those from which they came.

Scorpions tend to hide under things that will give them protection. Wood piles, scrap paper and boxes are among their favorite places to hang out. They typically shy away from the sun or light and will look for a place to hide if approached.

Reaching to pick something up without looking under it first is a leading cause of getting stung on the hand in areas where scorpions live. It is far less likely to happen in West Virginia than in Arizona or Mexico. No one would expect that a visit to the neighborhood Wal-Mart would result in such a shocking thing as to have a scorpion stick its venomous stinger in your finger.

Scorpions typically are found by themselves and often have babies or eggs on their bodies. If killed by Raid or some other bug spray, it most likely will kill the adult and the babies attached to its body. The simple smashing of a scorpion or capture and release of a scorpion may leave behind the baby scorpions or eggs.

Baby scorpions can be so small as to barely be noticed, which is deceiving, as their sting can be quite painful. Scorpions can be several inches long and their tails can stand equally tall, spinning in all directions to sting their intended prey. They come in various colors including tan, brown and black. Most common are the Bark Scorpions found in Arizona and Northern Mexico. They can deliver a nasty sting no matter their size.

Sources

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24831118/ MSNBC.com

Zane Waltz What it Feels Like to be Stung by a Scorpion Associated Content, Inc.