Scorpions

Scorpions

Scorpions are venomous arthropods in the class Arachnida. They are relatives of spiders, mites, and ticks. There are over 1400 species of scorpions worldwide. Scorpions have an elongated body and a segmented tail with a venomous stinger on the tip. They have four pairs of legs and pedipalps with plier-like pincers on the end.

Scorpions are generally associated with desert areas - and we do have them here in Tucson! However, they occur in many other habitats including grasslands and savannahs, forests, mountain pine forests, rain forest and caves.

Here are some hints for keeping scorpions at bay:

• Do not pile up debris and firewood in your backyard.
• Do not ignore broken pipes that cause leaking inside your home. Repair them as soon as possible.
• Do not go hunting for scorpions without the necessary equipment (contact spray insecticide). Use a black light to spot them from a distance.