Scorpion venom: deadly threat or source of healing?

As a child, we often heard warnings like “Don’t say the scorpion’s name, or it will appear.” But does this insect really have the ability to appear when it hears its name? Although it is hard to believe, there are people who risk their lives to care for scorpions, feed them, and, if necessary, pamper them with sweet words.

Gulbahor Samadova, a zootechnician who has worked in the “Invertebrates” department of the Tashkent Zoo since 2017, provided information about the characteristics of insects that have no name, as the people call them.

— The common Caucasian scorpion, up to 10 cm in size, is found under stones and in damp places. It can also be found in old houses and gardens. Its poison affects people differently, depending on immunity and health. The poison acts faster on young children. In adults, pain is felt at the site of the injury, and you should immediately take a painkiller or get an injection. If a person has concomitant diseases, scorpion venom can be even more dangerous and can even lead to death.

Scorpion venom affects adults and children differently. For an adult, a scorpion sting can cause severe pain, swelling, and some weakness. But for children, the danger is much more serious! Since their bodies are smaller and weaker, the venom spreads throughout the body faster. As a result, there are cases of rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and even fainting. In some cases, a scorpion sting can even lead to death for children. Therefore, in case of a sting, you should immediately consult a doctor.

— In order to prevent the venom from spreading at home, in the event of a scorpion sting, the first thing to do is to tie the wound with a medical tourniquet. The venom should be squeezed out, even if it is a little tight. Many people think that when a scorpion sting is necessary to apply mud. No, this cannot be done. The reason is that the soil contains small worms, ants, and microbes. You can't even heat the injured area. You need to apply the scorpion's own oil. If you caught the scorpion, you can put vegetable oil in a jar and apply the oil as an ointment, says the zootechnician.

^{Photo: "Daryo"}
Scorpions usually prefer warm and dark places. They can hide in abandoned areas, basements, and even in the cracks of your house. If a scorpion enters your house, it's no wonder - it means there is a favorable environment for them. What should you pay attention to to prevent scorpions from entering your house? Sealing cracks, spraying special products around the house and observing hygiene are the most important measures.
— To prevent scorpions from multiplying, you can keep a scorpion at home. Scorpions, ants, and scorpions also feed on scorpions. It is important to be more careful about cleanliness in the yards and prevent small worms from growing on trees. It is necessary to lime the tree trunk more often. Just one example is that the more ants there are, the more scorpions come to eat them.

Scorpions give birth live. Their babies are white and feed on a special juice from the mother's shoulder. After a day or two, the babies are transferred to another aquarium, because the mother can eat her babies. Personally, when feeding scorpions, I feed them with tweezers. They feed on small worms and insects. I can only handle them if I wear gloves, says Gulbahor Samadova.

^{Photo: “Daryo”}
The venom of a scorpion, one of the most dangerous creatures in nature, is not only a powerful poison, but also an invaluable gift for medicine. Scorpion venom, one of the most expensive liquids in the world, is used to treat cancer and nervous diseases. However, it is very difficult to collect it. Thousands of scorpions must secrete venom to obtain one gram. That is why its price reaches millions of dollars. According to information, a special farm for breeding scorpions operates in the Fergana region.

— When you see a scorpion, you should immediately put it in a jar or similar container and take it away. If it is brought to the zoo, we will take it. Because of its low population, it cannot be killed, but there are animals that hunt them too.

Scorpions can get caught in clothes or objects, and their presence or movement may not be noticeable. But they have never bitten me and caused injury. There are few scorpions in the department so far, and when new animals are brought in, we will increase their numbers. In winter, in the cold, scorpions become inactive, and special conditions are created in their aquarium. They can live up to 11 years. The scorpion in the zoo has also been living for five years, the specialist says. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”