Yesterday, before Jon and Francisco left for the beach, they showed me a small scorpion at their place. Scorpions are the only wee beastie that Jon won’t relocate outside ’cause they’re nasty. Not lethal here in CR unless one happens to be particularly vulnerable/allergic to the venom, just seriously ow-ee. Applied ice and (at times) Benadryl are common treatments for those stung by a Costa Rican scorpion.
The scorpion wasn’t more than an inch long but it looked formidable, I admit! Jon told me of a harrowing run in he had with one that stung him. He was pretty miserable for an entire day.
I haven’t seen any here in El Cajon, indoors or out
I commented to Jon that I don’t think they live up here where I am.
He quickly disabused me of that notion He said scorpions live at my elevation, too. When he lived even higher than I am here in El Cajon, scorpions lived there.
But I live on the equivalent of the “second floor” in a mountainside casita, up a flight of stairs, so getting in here wouldn’t be easy. They’d find easier pickings elsewhere.
That said, I’ve had my shoes and other clothing items off the floor at all times since moving here, having read that scorpions inhabit this part of the world. I also shake out my footwear before I put it on. Haven’t dislodged any creepy crawlies, ever, when doing that, but I don’t take any chances.
COSTA RICAN BEDFRAMES
The bed frames here are constructed so sheets can be tucked into wooden slats to keep wee beasties from accessing them. I have never found a creepy crawly in my bed. I make it every day and secure the sheets.
Second bedroom
(aka Charli’s Room.
Her loft is above this twin size bed)
Charli in the loft lounging on her carrier
My casita is astonishingly pest-free
Charli lets me know when a spider is afoot. I’ve seen a total of two nickel-sized wolf spiders (which I love) in about three months. Hardly an infestation. I just drop my handy dandy bug catcher over the top of them, slide the bottom in place, and carry them outside.
Tarantulas live around here, too
Alas, I haven’t seen a tarantula anywhere in Costa Rica yet, or you’d have seen pictures of it! Tarantulas fascinate me. Melaney Phillips told me the ones here often live in tarantula-sized holes in hillsides and elsewhere and their entryways are quite distinct. I have seen the holes, but never the occupants. They hunt at night, and I’m indoors every night to avoid any mosquitoes that emerge after sundown.
Every creature that lives has a vital role to play in its environment, or it wouldn’t be here. Costa Rica protects its wildlife and natural areas. As a new immigrant, I wholeheartedly agree and support the conservation measures that guide this nation!
Everything belongs — just not necessarily indoors where people live! Tromp or Transport is the cure! Most Ticos tromp the occasional trespassing scorpion and transport the rest back outside. What I’ll decide to do if I ever see a scorpion in here is yet to be determined. I’m presently on the fence.
But if I’d ever been stung by one, I’d probably be off the fence and totally all in for tromping the daylights out of all future potential interactions!