IT usually happens, for me, in the bathroom. Why, I don't know. I've sealed the windows. I've checked the drain. I think it's that there isn't a trap on the drain. WHATEVER, it happens.
Last night while indisposed while sitting in the bathroom, I happened to look up. Luckily, I had the light on.
When I was able to get up and look at it closely, I remained calm. Calm is a big thing for me when it comes to a scorpion. When I first moved to San Miguel and saw the first one, I screamed so much that two of my neighbors came to see if I was all right. I was on the roof terrace and dressed, luckily.
Anyway, remaining CALM, I went for the fly swatter. I have many strategically placed throughout the house.
A VERY important rule. Then I went back into the bathroom, hoping that it had not disappeared. Those guys are so sneaky. They can move faster then a gazelle. Anyway, it was trying to hide itself. Against a white fabric shower curtain, it was not possible, thankfully.
I planned my swat. I didn't want to hit it toward me. Heaven forbid. I managed to knock it to the floor where I beat it to death. Sorry animal lovers, but it was the scorpion or me. I have been stung once by one and it was nearly as bad as passing the gall stone. Neither of which I ever wanted to repeat.
The GOOD thing about the first scorpion of the season is this. Now you're way more careful. You always have shoes on, for one thing. You never walk into a darkened room without looking around and up. You don't pick up a towel and use without shaking it first. Ditto with the pockets of pants.
Then you pray for the rainy season to hurry up and get here. You see my guess is (since scorpions don't talk) that the heat and dryness drives them inside to look for a cooler place until the rainy season comes.
Fortunately I only see them for the couple of months of the year, April and May, before the summer rains.
Of course, if I had my druthers, it would be NEVER!
In the press releases about living in this wonderful UN World Heritage site and artist's colony, I've never seen anything about scorpions. Let me tell you this, THEY ARE HERE!
(The photo at the top of this post was taken this week. A man from Bernal, the wool village, comes into San Miguel and sells door stops made as owls and draft stops made as snakes. I would rather either in my house then a scorpion! )
17 comments:
Lavender is supposed to repel scorpions, so I've been harvesting it and setting out dried bouquets everywhere.
Thanks Jennifer! Let me know if that works and I think I'll buy a couple of bunches....gracias.
Pavender is widely used in France and Italy to keep those kritters away. Jusy lay some in the wondow sills.
Cheers, Peter.
Of course I always throw in a typo!
Ok Peter, I'm interpreting your post.....ha, thanks.
One of the joys of coming to San Miguel in August and September is to enjoy your crop of scorpions. I am fascinated with them. They are perfectly-designed insect killers. But, like you, I prefer to not share my living space with them.
Peter failed to tell you his fail safe method of dealing with spiders and scorpians, his wife!!! At home here in Vancouver BC he refuses to get near any spider to kill it. He hollers for me to come and do the nasty. I have tried to refuse but then he freaks me out with what if it comes along in the night!!! So I kill it rather than have nightmares.
Over forty years ago my best girlfriend (after taking out her contacts) reached at what she thought was a hair band with long hair hanging off it and pulled at the hair and bunched them up only to realize it was a huge spider.
I have not forgotten that scream of terror!!!!
Peter's wife - I could have lived my entire life without knowing the story of your friend, forty years ago! OMgosh.
And Peter, here I was thinking how nice it would be to have a man around the house! ha.
Steve, I think, for some reason, they are in the guest house more then my house. Maybe because that house abuts the gardens and mine is surrounded by the walkways and patios. Who knows? The one last night would have been a poster perfect specimen. Not now......ha.
In Ohio in recent years we have something called stinkbugs. They are perfectly harmless, but if you find one in the house and kill it, they supposedly emit a dreadful smell. I've had one in the house for a good portion of the winter... usually on the ceiling where I can't get to it. A few nights ago it was crawling on the wall in a very accessible spot. I got a drinking glass, placed it over the bug, and waited for it to crawl up the side of the glass. Then I rushed to the front door and tossed the critter into the cold. ¡Adios, muchacho! Ha! Ha!
I remember stinkbugs from when I was a little girl in Illinois! They do smell very bad. Guess that bug will always be sorry it went into the glass. Clever idea!
NOB, we believe that hell is inhabited by bats and maybe spiders. Mexicans believe it is full of scorpions.
Believe me, I'd rather have a bat in the house ANY day than a scorpion.
Very funny post, by the way.
Saludos,
Kim G
Puebla, Puebla
Where we haven't seen any scorpions, and we hope it stays that way.
In all the time we have spent in Mexico, we have never seen a scorpion. I look for them but do not really know what I would do if I found one. I know they are endangered and (in AZ anyway, protected). Like Steve says, they keep your house insect free.
Your description of their bite is a little disconcerting however as I thought it to be no worse than a bee sting.
Kim, that is funny! If you get bit by a rabid bat, you'll wish it was a scorpion........just kidding.
Croft, when stung on my finger after I had put my hands deep into my jeans pocket, I described akin to child birth in my finger. It hurt and throbbed like hell for about 3 hours.
It's not only the sting. They are just creepy and sneaky characters.
Where, when you are in Mexico, do you stay? It's highly unusual to see scorpions in tropical areas as their inhabitants are sandy, dusty, dry places like Arizona. Believe me, they are NOT even close to being extinct. They and roaches will inhabit the earth long after we are gone!
Oh my gosh! I guess we are really lucky. We've been in San Miguel for two and a half years and have yet to see a scorpion (knock on wood), and it was to cold and damp for them in Patzcuaro. For us this time of year is cockroach season. We have to cover the drains, but they still find their way in. Still, I would rather deal with a few cucarachas than scorpions!!
Shannon - How weird. And, I've never seen a roach here! Ever. Those I'm used to from living in Texas and Louisiana.
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