DON'T SIT DOWN!

This will be the title of the new horror movie I am filming. Oh, wait. I mean what I fear may be waiting to murder me around every dark corner, sleeve, sock, or shoe of my household now.

Bark Scorpion, Centruroides exilicauda (Closely related to the spider). 

I opened the bathroom door and turned on the light. I had never seen one of these creatures before, only heard about them. I intimately knew what they looked like, afterall, the murderous little beat represented my very own sign on the Zodiak. Yes, there was an effing scorpion in my bathroom. Whether it came from the hood of Vista, California, or whether the little monster had hitchhiked in on my boyfriend's backpack from his weekend trip to Arizona, will ever remain a mystery. Personally, I'm praying for the latter, because that means there's a good chance I won't see anymore for a long time. That would be okay with me.

Upon doing some internet research, it does seem likely that this guy was an Arizona Bark Scorpion (based on its size and location). Good, because we won't see anymore. Bad, because this guy is the most toxic of all scorpions in North America. Toxins released from the sting of the Bark Scorpion can kill pets and humans. Immediate medical attention is necessary. Stings can result in nausea, dizziness, vomiting, tremors, respiratory paralysis, seizure, coma, and death. Bark scorpions are one of the only species of scorpions that live in packs. Every other type of scorpion is solitary. I really hope he didn't bring any friends.

Scorpions are desert creatures that are attracted to moisture. Bark scorpions are the only species that can crawl up walls, and are also among the smallest of the species, making them most likely to enter people's homes. They can easily hide in cracks (and boot toes). Scorpions are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. Scorpions prey on other bugs, such as roaches, crickets, and beetles. Thankfully, several things prey on scorpions, including lizards, snakes, and birds. In addition, most are easily visualized with a backlight, including an LED flashlight. Use this to aid in detection!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_bark_scorpion
http://www.greenleafpest.com/blog/bid/192707/Scorpions-in-Southern-California
http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/pests/scorpions.html
http://www.scorpionworlds.com/arizona-bark-scorpion.html
http://askazbuglady.blogspot.com/2011/06/bark-scorpion-alert-phoenix-arizona.html
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/arizona-bark-scorpion.html