What it Feels like to Be Stung by a Scorpion

There is no more fearsome looking spider than the Scorpion with its pincher claws and stinger for a tail. Living in Arizona, it is a common encounter to get stung by a Scorpion. They seem to run in neighborhoods, with some areas having none and others infested with the translucent Scorpions, sometimes one every foot or two.

When nighttime falls it is not unusual to see worried homeowners in their yards with black lights. The Scorpions glow in the dark when lit. They are commonly found on block walls in yards. They are often dispatched with the sole of a shoe. Smashing Scorpions outside may be a waste of time as they have survived for a hundred million years. I don't think my next door neighbor is going to be able to kill them all.

Scorpions often get into a house either through cracks, ventilation or even in groceries and on pets. One day I was petting our dog after it came in from outside when I spotted a Scorpion crawling on its back. Of course we have to eliminate all critters from inside our house. Pesticides just don't seem to kill the Scorpion though. A good spray of Raid works, but sometimes they crawl around extending their pinchers and raising their tails in a furious effort to sting something. It can take fifteen minutes for the Raid to kill them.

The Scorpions seem to crawl in the same places on the walls and ceilings, kind of like a trail of ants. They like to crawl on ceilings above you while you sleep. Sometimes in a heavy Scorpion season you can be lying in bed and hear them drop from the ceiling. This is what I think happened the last time I was stung.

I had gone to bed and tucked myself in well. I was suddenly awakened by a stinging sensation on my neck. Before I could react I felt another sting. I jumped up, flailing to get the Scorpion off me. I couldn't see it in the dark, but as I brushed furiously at my T-shirt, I felt my hand touch it. It stung my hand. It felt like a rubber band as I brushed it off me. It was kind of squishy, yet tough. I turned on the light, collected the Scorpion, and let it loose outside. No hard feelings on my part. It is just the nature of the Scorpion to sting you.

So what did it feel like getting stung in the neck by a Scorpion while sleeping? Well, it stings like a bee sting, or maybe more like a wasp. It feels like a shocking sensation similar to an electrical charge. After a few minutes the pain begins to travel, usually toward your heart. If you are lucky, numbness also develops. The first time you are stung is the worst; it might hurt all day. In an extreme case, you might have a reaction and stop breathing. If you can still breathe, you will most likely say a few bad words at this point during the experience.

After you have been bitten a few times it is still scary and hurts, but by then you know what happens and what to expect. Usually within an hour of getting stung it quits hurting. One thing that never leaves, though, is the quick adrenaline rush one gets when spotting one of the critters. It is some sort of primeval reaction, I believe. My best advice is to avoid Scorpions if you can, but don't panic if you get stung, as it is not as bad as a Rattlesnake bite.