When winter rolls around in South Africa, many pests don’t just disappear, they move indoors.…
With the summer heat upon us, this is a great time of the year to enjoy the great outdoors or to get out into the garden with the “green fingers” to begin the summer gardening activities for the warmer growing season ahead.
Venturing outdoors or even going into one’s garden, one can certainly and in certain areas, very commonly encounter creepy crawlies in the form of arachnids such as spiders and scorpions, as well as reptiles such as lizards or snakes.
With Flick providing pest control services, this is strictly done to target insect pests and vermin, and applications are undertaken by our registered pest control technicians. Creatures such as spiders, scorpions and reptiles are not deemed as pests, and we, therefore, do not treat against these arachnids and reptiles.
The best course of action to follow in dealing with these creatures is firstly avoiding and prevention- which is to keep your premises clutter-free, garden well maintained, and to proof all doors, windows and seal holes to prevent their entry. Ensure your premises is free of vermin, such as rats or mice, and avoid harborage points for these vermin, as these are the natural prey of snakes, and if you have a rodent problem, or have rodents nesting on your property, one may expect to see the occasional snake, as they are attracted to your property due to the lure of their prey, and are naturally hunting and seeking out a source of food. Also avoid having thick undergrowth or compost heaps in one’s garden, as these are also areas snakes would be attracted to where rodents may potentially nest.
We do however get calls from people reaching out to us to have their property treated against spiders or scorpions, as they fear for their safety or children’s & pets safety in case of a spider bite or scorpion sting. As a pest control company, we look at safety as the first priority when attempting to undertake any form of application, however when tackling arachnids or reptiles, this is simply something that is best looked at from a different perspective, and one needs to find ways of preventing them, or trying to exclude them as much as possible as mentioned above, as simply applying a spray will not be a successful solution, as most arachnids are solitary by nature, and do move around often, and are not always confined to one spot as they are active externally in garden areas or surrounding veld areas, and unfortunately can enter one’s home/ business un- intentionally from time to time, and we simply do not treat for and against arachnids.
So in lieu of the risk of encountering creepy crawlies such as spiders, scorpions and even snakes, as well as to what safety precautions to take, and what to do in case of a spider bite or scorpion sting, and to further lastly to debunk some myths about these misunderstood creatures, I looked into this matter further, and in my current capacity as Client Relations and Marketing Manager, and having been in the pest control industry for over 21 years, I thought it would be best to consult with someone with vast knowledge of scorpions and spiders to provide true and factual advice, and I recently conducted an interview with Mr. Jonathan Leeming, who is a well-respected arachnologist, an author, conservationist and professional speaker & lecturer, and the go-to guy in respect to getting insight and help when it comes to venomous creepy crawlies.
Jonathan has published 9 books over the years, and has further held many talks around the subject of scorpions and spiders, and has worked in 11 countries, with people of different backgrounds, beliefs and cultures and has discussed the subject of scorpions and spiders and having the understanding of different beliefs and myths from people around the world, his far-reaching education on the matter, makes Jonathan a well-respected and knowledgeable authority in answering some questions I posed to him, to put people’s minds at ease on this matter.
Frequently Asked Scorpion Questions
Q. What scorpions would one find in and around the greater Pretoria/ Johannesburg area, as well as the greater Durban and Cape Town areas? Do you have some photos of these specific scorpions and their common names?
A. Southern African is blessed with a rich diversity of scorpions. My book, Scorpion of southern Africa includes distributions and images of all commonly found scorpions.
Q. Which of these scorpions in these areas are of medical importance to humans and pets that people should watch out for?
A. Areas with less than 600mm of annual rainfall.
Q. How does one prevent scorpions from entering my home or building?
A. There are no practical measures that can be used to prevent scorpions from entering houses. There is no plant or chemical that can be applied around a house to ward off scorpions. Being more vigilant and gaining an understanding of these animals is the best defence
Q. What should one do if you encounter a scorpion indoors, and if you do not want to harm it, or if one is too afraid to approach it to have it removed- what can a person do?
A. If you live in an area here venomous animals are a common occurrence, make sure you have the contact number of your neighbourhood watch. Call them if you need assistance with any venomous animal.
Q. Is it true that scorpions glow in the dark? What causes this to happen if so?
A. Scorpions fluoresce under ultraviolet light at a wavelength of about 395nm. We are still not sure why they possess this ability.
Q. If a person or pet is stung and it is confirmed as a scorpion sting, what first aid and medical procedures should one follow?
A. If the person or pet owner is concerned then get professional medical advice. Avoid asking for advice on social media as the people who say the most often know the least.
Q. Is applying an ice pack to a sting site and taking antihistamines a course of medical assistance to alleviate the symptoms of the sting?
A. Never apply ice to a scorpion sting nor antihistamine cream to the sting site. Neither are beneficial.
Frequently Asked Spider Questions
Q. What common spiders would one find in and around the greater Pretoria/ Johannesburg area, as well as the greater Durban and Cape Town areas? Do you have some photos of these specific common spiders and their common names?
A. There are only 4 groups of medically important spiders in Southern Africa. We are lucky in Southern Africa to have numerous books on the subject of spiders. Get hold of one of the spider books from your nearest book store.
Q. How does one prevent spiders from entering one’s home or building, and what should one do if you encounter a spider indoors, and if you do not want to harm it, or if one is too afraid to approach it to have it removed- what can a person do?
A. Contact your local neighbourhood watch and they will be able to assist.
Q. Which of these spiders in these areas are of medical importance to humans and pets that people should watch out for?
A. Spiders are amazingly common in our gardens. Contrary to popular belief, they do not present a legitimate health threat. Spider bite misdiagnosis is very common. If some think they have been bitten by a spider and they did not see the spider bite them. I would be very sceptical that a spider was involved at all. I speak a lot about spider bite misdiagnosis.
Q. If a person or pet gets bitten by a spider, are there different forms of first aid one should administer and follow, and is it necessary to seek medical attention for all confirmed spider bites, or only specific spider bites?
A. It is important for anyone who has pre-existing medical condition (especially those diseases that compromise the immune system) to contact a medical professional. Non-medically important bites can be easily self-treated.
Debunking scorpion & spider myths
Q. Is it true the larger the scorpion the more venomous it is? Baby scorpions cannot sting people because their stingers are too small?
A. Not at all, size has nothing to do with venomosity.
Q. Are the black scorpions more venomous than other types with other colour forms?
A. Coloration is not an indication of the animal’s venom.
Q. Will scorpions nest in my garden or on my property?
A. Scorpions do not live in nests. There are only a few species of scorpion that live in the urban environment.
Q. Is it true the thicker the tail, the more venomous a scorpion is?
A. In southern Africa we have what I call the Venomosity Rule Of Thumb. Scorpions with large pincers and a thin talk are less venomous than scorpions with small pincers and a thick tail.
Q. All spiders and scorpions are aggressive, so that’s why one cannot go near them and that’s what makes them so dangerous?
A. Spiders and scorpions are never aggressive, they are defensive. Danger and venomosity are completely different things. It is our interaction with the animal that introduced the element of danger rather than then animal itself.
Q. Does a scorpion sting leave a mark behind after it stings you?
A. Stings are unremarkable. In many instances, the sting site is not clearly visible.
Q. Spiders crawl on you while you asleep, and one can even swallow spiders while you are asleep?
A. It is possible, but so is winning the lottery.
Q. Do all spiders make webs?
A. All spiders can spin silk, but only 25% of spider spin a web to catch prey.
Q. Daddy long leg spiders are highly venomous, but they can’t bite humans because their fangs are too small?
A. This is one of the many snippets of old wives tales about spiders, not true.
Q. Are there any other myths you have heard of that are completely false that may be worth mentioning?
A. A popular myth is thinking someone has been bitten by a spider with our any evidence. I speak a lot about why people think they have been bitten by a spider when there is no evidence a spider is the culprit. There are usually 4 reasons why people think they have been bitten by a spider, they are: It looks like a spider bite; what else could it be; I googled it; my doctor told me it is a spider bite. None of these reasons substantiate a spider bite.
Some advice regarding snakes
Q. As you are the go-to guy on venomous creatures, and now with the warmer weather here to stay for the summer season, surely snakes will also become more active this time of year. In saying this, are there any measures people can do to their property to avoid snakes from entering their home or building, or any other measure they should take when walking in the wild to avoid snake bite?
A. These is no way to make a house snake proof, or any chemical or plants that will ward off snakes. Education is important, as well as an understanding and awareness of snakes. It is interesting that people who are afraid of snakes usually know the least about them.
Q. If one encounters a snake on your property, what should one do as a lot of people are afraid of all types of snakes?
A. Contact your neighbourhood watch and they will arrange for someone to remove it.
Q. In terms of first aid advice- if a person or pet is bitten by a confirmed venomous or non-venomous snake, what are the best first aid measures to follow on site after it’s happened, as well as what medical treatment should be administered?
A. Never apply any medical treatment yourself. Seek professional medical assistance. Do not ask for advice on Facebook or other social media.
Q. Is anyone who feels they are capable of removing a snake, are they allowed to remove a “Problem” snake from a property when it is encountered?
A. There is a difference between feeling capable and being capable. If the individual has been on a reputable course, has the right equipment and permits to capture and release. Experience is also vital for working with highly venomous species. An emergency protocol is vital for these individuals.
We would like to thank Mr. Jonathan Leeming for his expert advice over the subject of the creepy crawlies during the warmer weather and in assisting us in obtaining creditable and accurate information to create this article.
Jonathan, has a website – please visit https://scorpions.co.za/ which has very informative and factual information on the subjects of arachnids, as well as snakes which is well worth visiting, along with www.JonathanLeeming.com which focuses upon values and beliefs necessary to understand the world.
Remember “One Flick and They’re Gone”
Flick Pest Control is here to provide a solution for any pest query you may need help with, or for any other pest control solution, advice or concerns you may encounter. Give us a ring on 087 056 1021, drop us an email on enquiries@flickpest.co.za or drop us a comment on our blog or social media platforms.
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