As we sit outside in our modern world and look to the starry sky, we have to wonder what was going through the minds of our early ancestors.

Ancient Babylonians scanned the Southern sky and identified a fierce constellation they named MUL.GIR.TAB, or “creature with a burning sting.” It was most visible in their month Arakh Savna, which lands roughly on the last week of October and into November.

Greek legends tell of a scorpion who stung Orion to death and is represented by the same constellation, Scorpius, rival of the planet Mars.

Art depicting Babylonian myths and the poem the Epic of Gilgamesh (who came to the Bible’s Noah to ask advice) even present scorpion men, ready to attack. No surprise then that some of that trickled down into the personality attributes of people born over that 28 day period – loyalty, bravery, stubborn, magnetic, intense (burning) passion, unyielding determination, and willingness to strategically lie in wait.

There’s a Scorpion in my Boot!

We’re not sure how strategic the actual creatures are, however, while they are more intelligent than 99% of arthropods, most of our human interaction with their stingers appears to be more by coincidence or chance than by any calculated approach on their part.

They do lie in wait for their prey and will grab them and hold them as they inject the toxins into their system. But striking our human heels and hands is more of an instinctual reaction than a threat. Should you see a scorpion in your home, best to shake out shoes or boots before you put them on.

Palm Dwellers

While most of us probably have a culturally embedded image of scorpions existing mostly in the desert, that’s not entirely true. We actually get a fair number of Centruroides gracilis here in Florida, especially on the Gulf Coast.

The Florida Bark Scorpion and the Hentz Striped Scorpion are all prevalent in our area. The names give us a little clue. These arachnids find moisture, shelter, and ample hunting as they hide themselves in palm tree bark. They’re also big fans of citrus trees, as rotting fruit can attract insects. Scorpions love our semi-tropical weather and along with trees, can sometimes be found in and around newly constructed or abandoned homes.

Another species, the Guiana Striped Scorpion, seldom travels far outside of the Everglades, found mostly in Miami-Dade, Collier, and Monroe counties.

Their stings all hurt but none of them are fatal to humans. In fact, their venom has been found to be a good pain reliever for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Everything in God’s creation has a purpose.

Stinging Rebukes

If you find a scorpion in your house, you’ll want to check for cracks in the walls and anywhere pipes or cables come into your home, possibly giving scorpions – and other critters – access.

Most of the time, though, you’ll find scorpions in your yard. The best way to eliminate that threat is to clear out any excess brush or clutter around your yard. We all love shade, but the more Florida sunshine is on your lawn, the less chance you have of encountering scorpions.

Next, remove their food sources. Discard rotted fruit, trim back palm tree bark, and just like mosquitoes, dump out any standing water, even small amounts.

Finally, you can plant some lemongrass, marigolds, mint or lavender around your yard and garden. Scorpions do not like the pleasant odors these flowering plants produce and will find an easier place to hang out.

While it’s not one of our primary targets, our Go Green Perimeter Plus also helps eliminate scorpions from your home, along with spiders, ants and cockroaches. Part of this is our inspection process to recommend sealing those sometimes-forgotten entry points. We also provide the most effective and greenest treatments available. Our solutions are safe for your family and pets.

For more information, or to get started today, you can chat with one of our highly trained and certified pest technicians – just give us a call!