Page 32 - AT

A32 FEATURE
Monday 23 SepteMber 2019
'I've got one!' Hunting neon scorpions in the Arizona desert

By PETER PRENGAMAN lion stings annually, 3,250,
LOST DUTCHMAN STATE or 0.27%, resulted in death.
PARK, Arizona (AP) — As The highest risk areas are in
the setting sun left a yel- parts of Africa, the Middle
low tinge on dirt-colored East, South India, Mexico
cactuses as far as the eye and southern Latin Amer-
could see, park ranger ica, and fatalities were
Anna Roberts gave us a often a result of a lack of
lesson on what we were anti-venom treatments, ac-
about to hunt. cording to the study.
"Scorpions know they will Esposito said that of about
not kill us because we are 2,500 species of scorpions
much larger," said Roberts, worldwide, only 25 or so
explaining that the ani- are truly dangerous. The
mals' first instinct would be most hazardous in the Unit-
to escape, not sting, and ed States is found in South-
that fatalities from bites in western states: the Arizona
the U.S. were rare. "So, you bark scorpion, which is light
don't have worry about brown and blends into the
that." desert landscape.
The light-hearted prepara- While scorpions get a "bad
tory chat also came with a This Aug. 18, 2019 photo shows the Praying Hands Formation of the Superstition Mountains in Lost rap," they are an impor-
serious message: Don't be Dutchman State Park located outside of Phoenix, Ariz. tant indicator of the overall
dumb with scorpions, which Associated Press health of the ecosystems
move quickly on eight legs where they are found, said
and are equipped with pin- In movies, on the skin of arachnology at the Califor- to see scorpions in a dif- Esposito.
cer claws and curved tails many tattoo lovers and in nia Academy of Sciences. ferent way. When he was "If something is going wrong
that lash enemies and de- one of the 12 astrological Some theorize that the light growing up, his family con- in an area, scorpions are
posit venom. signs, scorpions' distinct scares off would-be preda- sidered them pests. a place to look" to under-
Closed-toed shoes were shape and supposed attri- tors, while others think it The hearty arthropods, stand what is going on, she
a must, the critters should butes are often on display. might attract pollinators, which have roamed the said.
only be picked up with They are portrayed as sav- potential prey. earth for millions of years, After an hour, our group
tongs, and they should not age, lethal, true warriors A few minutes into the hike, can indeed be unwanted had gathered about 25
be played with — a mes- — not far off from what we neon green shapes began guests. Dozens of Phoenix scorpions. All were placed
sage I made sure my oldest were about to see on the appearing. They ranged in companies offer to spray, in a large plastic box,
children, boys ages 8 and hunt. length from a small grass- kill and seal scorpions out of around the size of a home
9, heard. As we walked into the des- hopper to a human finger. homes. Online ads include aquarium. Roberts, the
Having just moved with my ert under the moonlight, Upon our approach, the pictures of smiling and un- ranger, identified three
family to Arizona, the excur- we carried flashlights to see scorpions would sometimes suspecting little children, kinds we had captured:
sion struck me as a uniquely where we were stepping. scurry away, sometimes and warnings that scorpi- straight tail, yellow ground
desert-life thing to do. How- The terrain was rocky, dusty duck into a hole and, just ons could even show up in and giant hairy scorpions.
ever, my wife, who rightly and uneven, mixed with as often, raise their pincers your bed. Watching them interact, I
said taking our 3-year-old rough underbrush. Crucial and arch their tails in prep- While scorpion stings hurt — was awed by their feroc-
would have been a bad to the hunt, however, were aration for battle. There is a experts say they are like a ity. Several attacked each
idea, thought I was nuts. black lights: Scorpions glow reason they are apex pred- bee sting — they are rare- other, pinching and whip-
For whatever reason, I've under ultraviolent lights for ators in the invertebrate ly lethal, especially in the ping their tails, while others
always found scorpions reasons that scientists don't food chain. United States. A 2008 study, tried in vain to climb out,
intriguing, if not a little ter- know. "I've got one! I've got one!" "Epidemiology of scorpi- slipping on the side of the
rifying. A glance at popu- "Why they fluoresce is the people began shouting, onism: A global appraisal," box only to charge and
lar culture tells me I'm not million-dollar question," said capturing them with tongs found that of about 1.2 mil- continue trying.q
alone. Lauren Esposito, curator of from behind. "I need a box
over here!"
A handful of people car-
rying plastic containers,
including my sons, would
come over, opening the
cap so a writhing scorpion
could be placed inside.
Everybody around would
stop, shine black lights and
stare as the scorpion be-
gan moving from one side
of the box to the other.
"This is awesome!" said
James Brine, a 37-year-old
machinist from Tempe, a
Phoenix suburb, who wore
a black T-shirt with a neon
scorpion on the front. "I love This Aug. 18, 2019 photo shows Park Ranger Anna Roberts,
In this Aug. 18, 2019 photo, scorpions wander in a tank after be- it." center, talking about scorpions and how to catch them in Lost
ing captured in Lost Dutchman State Park, Ariz. Brine, who came out with Dutchman State Park, Ariz.
Associated Press two friends, said it was fun Associated Press