Desert-dwelling scorpions usually ride out the winter months in underground burrows or under logs. But this year, unseasonably warm weather in Phoenix, Arizona, brought them out of their hideaways early—much to the dismay of locals. The animals, known for their claws and venomous sting, began invading people’s homes.
Ben Holland, who runs a scorpion-control company, began receiving calls about scorpions in beds, in showers, and on walls. These arachnids (relatives of spiders) come out at night, so they’re tough to catch. Holland’s team uses special lights that cause the scorpions to fluoresce, or glow, to spot them in the dark. Then they capture the animals and donate them to researchers.
The removal of the scorpions is a relief to residents, who want to avoid a sting that, according to Holland, “feels like a really bad bee sting.”