The Perfect Desert Survivor – The Bark Scorpion
Phoenix and all of it’s surrounding towns and cities are all a part of a valley in the desert of Arizona. This heavily populated area in the United States is surrounded by non developed desert terrain for many miles in every direction. This land is barren desert, you have an entire population and ecosystem that contains a thriving world of desert wildlife. Keep in mind being able to thrive in these conditions, like intensely high temperatures, drought, and monsoon flooding activity, have made the Arizona Bark Scorpion extremely tough and durable.
Imagine crawling around on a surface that can exceed 130 degrees. During the extended times between any precipitation they must go without water readily available. There food source is in most cases other small insects and arachnids dealing with the same conditions.
The Arizona Bark Scorpion is perfectly designed for this torturous challenging environment. Able to live for extended periods of time with out water or food. They have a hard outer skeleton almost like a tank in design, protecting them from the rough terrain and predators. Withstanding intense heat, lack of hydration, eating rarely, and body armor, it is the perfect desert dweller. This is why it has been a battle for decades in trying (unsuccessfully) to keep them out of our homes and property.
Why is the Arizona Bark Scorpion so common in Phoenix
Phoenix Arizona, and places like Las Vegas Nevada, have been built in the middle of barren desert. The Bark Scorpions home for thousands of years. So their presence has been here from the start. Their ability to multiply is impressive. A female Bark Scorpion can give live birth to as many as 30 – 40 babies at a time. Of course the closer you live to the outer perimeter of the valley, closer to barren desert, the more wildlife you will be exposed to and a greater number of scorpions. This is why towns and cities like Gilbert Az., Chandler Az., Queen Creek Az., Buckeye Az., Cave Creek Az., Henderson Nv., Las Vegas Nv., Summerlin Nv., and many others that border barren desert have a large population of Bark Scorpions.
These developed areas have irrigation, shelter, and an unlimited food source for Bark Scorpions.
Getting stung by a Bark Scorpion
Getting stung by a Bark Scorpion is rarely lethal. Compared to many other scorpions throughout the world they are far less dangerous to humans and pets. Although they do have the most intense sting of all scorpions in North America.
Symptoms vary, but often include intense pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle spasms, with more severe cases potentially causing breathing difficulties, excessive salivation, and erratic eye movements. The young and elderly are most apt to needing medical attention.