By Buck Tilton

Loving the night, as most spiders also do, and hiding by day, scorpions all sting with the tip of their "tail"--the last few segments of their abdomen. From small species that reach maturity at three-fourths inch to humongus nine-inches, scorpions have crab-like pincers used only to hold and tear apart their prey. Insects are their primary source of food.

Most victims report no more pain than that inflicted by a irritated honeybee. An attack of the species Centruroides may be different. In North America only the Centruroides is a known killer of humans. They are usually old-straw-yellow or yellow with dark longitudinal stripes, and reach from two to 7.5 centimeters in length. Their pincers are long and slender as opposed to bulky and lobster-like. The sting, immediately and exquisitely painful, is increased by a light tap on the site. Deaths have almost exclusively been in small children, the elderly, and the severely allergic. This scorpion is only found in Mexico and the extreme southwestern United States.

First aid for any scorpion sting should involve cooling the wound which allows the body to more easily break down the molecular structure of the venom. Cooling also reduces pain. Use ice or cool running water if available. On a warm night, a wet compress will help. Keep the victim calm and still. Panic and activity speed up the venom1s spread. If the scorpion was Centruroides, post-sting manifestations may include heavy sweating, difficulty swallowing, blurred vision, loss of bowel control, jerky muscular reflexes, and respiratory distress. These serious signs are cause for quick evacuation to a medical facility. Antitoxins are available in many areas where dangerous scorpions live.

© 1999 Buck Tilton; All Right Reserved