No one enjoys being stung by any creature. Even if the foe isn’t poisonous, stings can be painful and itchy. Since spider bites and scorpion stings are the two most likely experiences you’ll have in the desert, here is a little information about both and how you can avoid them.
Scorpions
You can find scorpions in Africa, North and South America, the Caribbean and India. You can run into particularly dangerous species of scorpions in Arizona, New Mexico and the western side of the Colorado River. Since these area’s are so close to home, it is wise to be familiar with the species and their stings.
You definitely want to try to avoid these bites because it is possible to die from a scorpion sting. You can avoid being one of the 3,000 deaths that occur from scorpion stings by being aware of the places they like to hide.
Since they are nocturnal insects, you want to be extra careful to check dark hiding places inside your home. Shake out your shoes before putting them on and be careful about reaching into dark cupboards and pantries. If you live in an area that is known for scorpions, it may be a good idea to add a protective ledge of about eight inches to prevent the critters from getting into your home in the first place.
You can recognize a scorpion sting because they tend to be painful. For stings that are more severe, you may also experience sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a rise in blood pressure or malaise.
If you are stung, treat it right away. For mild stings, an over-the-counter pain reliever and an ice compression are usually sufficient. For more severe stings, seek medical attention. You may be in need of an antivenom. When that is done, contact the Las Vegas exterminators to prevent if another sting from happening.
Spiders
Generally, you don’t have to worry about spiders. They aren’t usually aggressive or poisonous. In Las Vegas, you mainly need to watch out for the brown recluse and the black widow.
It can be harder to avoid spider bites. They hunt whenever they please and are much more able to get into your home through the tiny cracks and holes in the walls. As a general rule, they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. However, if you see a brown recluse or a black widow, call the exterminator in Las Vegas experienced with handling poisonous insects.
Bites from a black widow can induce paralysis if the bite is serious enough. Bites from brown recluses are dangerous because they can cause damage to the tissue around the bite. They can even cause the tissue to die if the bite is not treated quickly enough.
In less severe cases, you can experience headaches, dizziness, swelling, skin rash, swelling around the eyes or trouble breathing. You may also feel pain and burning at the site of the sting.
If you are stung, treat with ice compression to help reduce the pain and avoid damage to tissue. If the sting is severe, head to a medical center right away to receive the necessary treatment to avoid tissue death.
We’ve said it before: if there is one creepy critter, there are others. Call the Las Vegas exterminators at R and C Pest Control because they are experts in finding and removing these dangerous bugs. For more information about the great Las Vegas exterminators, contact 702.257.2847.