Desert Scorpion Facts & Information
Protect your home or business from desert scorpions by learning techniques for identification and control.
Treatment
How do I get rid of desert scorpions?
What Orkin Does
Your local Orkin Pro is trained to help manage desert scorpions and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique treatment program for your situation.
Orkin can provide the right solution to keep desert scorpions in their place...out of your home, or business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Behavior, Diet & Habits
Understanding Desert Scorpions
Appearance
One desert scorpion that dwells in North America is the giant desert hairy scorpion.
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Length: It can grow to lengths of 14 cm, and is a brown color with yellowish pincers and legs.
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Body: Its name was derived from the brown hairs that cover the whole body. An interesting fact is that the hairs are used to detect ground and air vibrations. Through the vibration, the scorpion can determine the direction of its prey.
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Tail & Stinger: This scorpion also has a long tail that is tipped with a bulb-like poison gland and stinger.
Diet
Beetles, small lizards, and a variety of insects make up the desert scorpion diet.
Habitat
Fortunately, desert scorpions don't settle in one location for long. They are inclined to move on after a few days, always looking for new hunting grounds. While scorpions are generally content to reside in their typical habitats, they will sometimes move to the interior of homes and sheds when their normal habitat has been altered by heavy rains, flooding and construction activities.
The Deathstalker Scorpion
One species of the desert scorpions is the scorpion that can be found in North Africa and the Middle East. It is known as the "deathstalker" (Leiurus quinquestriatus) or "yellow scorpion," due to its yellow color. This kind produces very potent venom.
Stings
The venom of the deathstalker scorpion produces a number of severe symptoms with death as a possible end result. Symptoms include:
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Fever
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Coma
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Convulsion
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Increased heart rate
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High blood pressure
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Increased fluid secretion into the lungs and bronchioles
Safety & Medical Concerns
One thing you should remember: if you are stung by either of these scorpions, it doesn't matter how dangerous or mild the sting is. You should always seek medical attention immediately afterwards, or as soon as you can.
More Information
The most common kinds of scorpions are desert scorpions. These are widespread in arid areas around the globe. Most are venomous, establishing them as one of the most feared creatures in the animal kingdom.