Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Reason Number 985,234 For NOT Moving To Florida


So, ... Don't try this at home.



No scorpions were harmed in the making of this post.



On the video, I called this a brown scorpion, because ... well, that's what I call it.
However, in doing a little Googling, I think it may be our striped scorpion.


These are really common in wood piles, or under anything that sits outside for awhile.

They really do come in the house occasionally and I actually did haul one inside in a stack of mail once.

Luckily, he slithered out just after I plunked the mail down on the bed, so I noticed him before he slipped under the covers.

That would have been bad.

One of these crawled up my pants leg when I was doing some fencing years ago and it zapped me about 3 times as I frantically tried to remove it before it got any higher.

Not fun, but no worse than a wasp sting ... in case you were wondering about the venom.

Nothing like a stingray sting.
THAT really hurts.






26 comments:

Dani said...

Bear needs a poodle puppy friend.

penny said...

I had forgotten they lived here in south Fl. thanks for the reminder, Florida-cracker.

Anonymous said...

you forgot the snakes, alligators, lizards and spiders...

Dina J said...

I had forgotten there were here as well. When I moved down here people told me to check my running shoes before I put them on if I leave them in the garage. I never do. Luckily I haven't seen one yet. Good to know it won't kill me.

On the stingray note, after living here for 10 years, last summer I saw a man get stung by one at Fort Deosoto. It was weird to see a grown man turn blue and then almost cry. He was in so much pain. The ranger took him back to the station. And no, he wasn't doing the stingray shuffle when he got hit.

Anonymous said...

Ah, but for someone like me who wants to see all kinds of critters, Florida seems like just the right place. Alligators! Scorpions! Manatees! You got 'em all.

Brenda Maas said...

Where I live in Mexico, a scorpion sting can be dangerous, depending on which type stings you.
They are not something to fool around with here.
Glad yours are a bit milder.

Anonymous said...

Hi FC,

We do have our share of bugs and reptiles here. Good thing I love my state or I'd probably be outta here!

Saw this and didn't know if you were interested or knew about it:

http://staugustine.com/entertainment/arts/2012-04-26/may-5-great-southern-cracker-roadshow#.T6GNUNoRrJE.facebook


p

Pablo said...

We have scorps in Missouri, and I've seen some among a pile of bricks near the cabin. They don't worry me too much, but I worry about the little dog, who is fearless. If he got stung . . .

Anonymous said...

I've only had an issue with scorpions in one home we've lived in- for whatever reason they would constantly show up. From big black ones to tiny brown ones. Never been stung (no desire to, either... for that matter rule out the stingray, too). :) So far my worst stinger pain has come from yellow jackets. 1 word - ouch.

R.Powers said...

Dani,
Oh don't even... they are so cute.

R.Powers said...

Pam,
You probably have some exotic species down there too!

R.Powers said...

Anon,
I never forget them.
LOL

R.Powers said...

Dina,
I didn't cry either but the thought crossed my mind.
That check your shoe advice is solid. I always do that for any shoe left on the porch.

R.Powers said...

Robin,
You and Roger get a pass.

R.Powers said...

Brenda,
Agreed. I wouldn't do this with any powerful scorpions.

R.Powers said...

Pablo,
I would worry about that too. Bear doesn't seem to notice them.

R.Powers said...

Patio,
We are loaded with creepers. I would keep scorpions and lose the sand gnats if that were possible.
Thanks for the link.

R.Powers said...

Wendy,
Those yellow jackets are short tempered ...I am not a fan. They seem to sting for no reason.

Doug Taron said...

On a recent trip to Gainesville- the one where you and I got to meet in person- a bunch of us went out blacklighting near Micanopy. One of the guys was holding a striped scorp (intact stinger on this one) and it ran up his arm and under his tee shirt sleeve. I was certain it wouldn't end well, but we got it out with my friend unscathed. The friend turns out to be one of these people who is completely fearless of stinging things. He doesn't hesitate to handle velvet ants barehanded, either.

Ericka said...

one assumes that you also have the four inch long flying cockroaches that inhabit north carolina. that alone will keep me away... far away!

scorpions are cute. roaches are... *shudder* ick.

R.Powers said...

Doug,
Velvets? Holding them? Nope. Not me!

R.Powers said...

Ericka,

We seem to have all of the worlds cockroaches.
cute? Scorpions?

Anonymous said...

Ericka- whatever you do don't watch "Joe's Apartment". :) I'll take the roaches over the scorpions any day.

Mark said...

Ha! I did the scorpion in the bed trick once. It felt like a minor bee sting, but I checked between the sheets before getting in bed for a long, long time. One also fell off a beam in the ceiling and landed right between my legs. It must have made him mad, because he also stung. Also not too bad.

R.Powers said...

Mark,
Yikes! Minor bee sting is pretty accurate to me.

Prem said...

Looks like a Centruroides hentzi and a pretty big one for this species. I remember having these turn up with relative frequency in our home in Tallahassee.

Not so much now in the 'burbs around Orlando.