Red Scorpion Facts & Information
Protect your home or business from red scorpions by learning techniques for identification and control.
Treatment
How do I get rid of red scorpions?
What Orkin Does
Your local Orkin Pro is trained to help manage red scorpions and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique treatment program for your situation.
Orkin can provide the right solution to keep red scorpions in their place...out of your home, or business.
Behavior, Diet & Habits
Understanding Red Scorpions
Appearance
The Indian red scorpion (Hottentotta tumulus) is one of the most dangerous species of scorpions known to man. It is quite common in India, Pakistan and Nepal. This scorpion earned itself the Indian red scorpion moniker due to its often orange-red body.
Red scorpions share many typical characteristics with other species of scorpions, especially the large pair of pincher-like pedipalps, which they use to hold prey to keep them still.
Behavior
Like most other scorpions, reds are nocturnal arachnids. They usually prey on insects, spiders and even on smaller scorpion varieties. They detect their prey by sensing vibrations in the air and in the earth. This is done through the use of special organs and an array of fine sensory hairs. They often wander at night searching for prey but will seek shelter in the morning.
When hunting or whenever it feels pressed or cornered, a red scorpion will use its stinger to protect itself or to incapacitate its prey. A person who gets stung by a red scorpion can actually die if not treated; these scorpions are known to carry a very potent neurotoxin that contains a mix of salts, small molecules, peptides and proteins.
Sting & Venom
Its venom contains neurotoxins that can be especially deadly to children, since their bodies are small. This venom can cause very serious effects on the human heart. It can also cause hypertension in humans, which can be deadly when combined with cardiac failure or irregularity. The result is the aforementioned effects, as well as losing the ability to breathe due to paralysis of the lungs. According to research studies, this venom has been found to interfere with the normal operation of muscles, particularly those that need regular and uninterrupted orders (i.e., cardiac muscles, diaphragm, etc.) from the central nervous system in order for them to function.
A sting by the red scorpion can be very painful at the onset. Other immediate symptoms of the red scorpion poisoning include vomiting and nausea, palpitation and excessive production of saliva.