Nipped by a scorpion

[NT5224]

A couple of months ago I quipped about a tree falling and crushing a runway marker on my strip… And received some very amusing responses. 🤣

 

But now I have another aviation incident to report. Or, in truth probably not report…

 

So I got stung  by a scorpion in my aircraft.
 

I wasn’t actually flying at the time but was at an out field to refuel. After getting back in and starting up I felt sharp sting in my lower back under my shirt. But since I was strapped in, I couldn’t move freely to investigate.  I assumed it was a wasp or a horsefly and thought nothing more of it. Uneventful flight home but putting the aircraft back in the hangar found a scorpion under the pilot seat. Chucked it out. 
 

I have no doubt the scorpion originated from my own hangar.  I have seen them around the hangar and regularly spray for them and other vermin. But now ten days later I have a big reddened blotch on my  lower back which is still a bit sore to touch at the sting site.

 

im not sure what lessons can be learned from this experience. Should preflight checklist include a detailed inspection of every nook and cranny of the aircraft including within seat covers?  Is that practical? I spray in and around my hangar and around the undercarriage of the aircraft to discourage passengers boarding…

 

Should  I have flown home after an assumed insect sting? I know some people suffer can anaphylactic reactions, but I don’t.  Anyway, who is to say how long a reaction will take to have effect? Do you wait two hours, four hours, six hours?  Losing the light would be a greater risk than some possible effect of an insect nip. 
 

Will  this stop me flying?  Absolutely  not. I’ll keep spraying  the hangar and have a good look in the cockpit and brush down my seat before a flight, but hey this is the Top End…

 

Alan 

 

 

[facthunter]

More likely to get in your boots IF you leave them outside the tent. It's a Territory thing. Nev

[Underwood]

5 hours ago, NT5224 said:

A couple of months ago I quipped about a tree falling and crushing a runway marker on my strip… And received some very amusing responses. 🤣

 

But now I have another aviation incident to report. Or, in truth probably not report…

 

So I got stung  by a scorpion in my aircraft.
 

I wasn’t actually flying at the time but was at an out field to refuel. After getting back in and starting up I felt sharp sting in my lower back under my shirt. But since I was strapped in, I couldn’t move freely to investigate.  I assumed it was a wasp or a horsefly and thought nothing more of it. Uneventful flight home but putting the aircraft back in the hangar found a scorpion under the pilot seat. Chucked it out. 
 

I have no doubt the scorpion originated from my own hangar.  I have seen them around the hangar and regularly spray for them and other vermin. But now ten days later I have a big reddened blotch on my  lower back which is still a bit sore to touch at the sting site.

 

im not sure what lessons can be learned from this experience. Should preflight checklist include a detailed inspection of every nook and cranny of the aircraft including within seat covers?  Is that practical? I spray in and around my hangar and around the undercarriage of the aircraft to discourage passengers boarding…

 

Should  I have flown home after an assumed insect sting? I know some people suffer can anaphylactic reactions, but I don’t.  Anyway, who is to say how long a reaction will take to have effect? Do you wait two hours, four hours, six hours?  Losing the light would be a greater risk than some possible effect of an insect nip. 
 

Will  this stop me flying?  Absolutely  not. I’ll keep spraying  the hangar and have a good look in the cockpit and brush down my seat before a flight, but hey this is the Top End…

 

Alan 

 

 

AFAIK anaphylactic reactions come on very quickly, I'm sensitive to Bee stings though not to the extent of anaphylactic shock and the sting site starts swelling almost immediately.

It's a shame as I enjoyed my short time keeping Bees

[danny_galaga]

5 hours ago, facthunter said:

More likely to get in your boots IF you leave them outside the tent. It's a Territory thing. Nev

Well, central anyway. I grew up in Darwin and I don't think I ever saw a scorpion. A BILLION cockroaches though. I don't miss those 😄

[facthunter]

Yes the Big ones that fly. Scorpions ARE for the desert. Plenty of sandfly's near the shore these days especially after dark.  Nev

[NT5224]

Nev, I wish you’d come up to my place in the Top End and explain to all the thousands of scorpions that they don’t belong here and should bugger off to the desert instead! 

 

And if you can draw away the King Browns too, like the pied piper, it’d be much appreciated…🤣
 

Alan 

[BrendAn]

1 hour ago, facthunter said:

Yes the Big ones that fly. Scorpions ARE for the desert. Plenty of sandfly's near the shore these days especially after dark.  Nev

sand flies are evil here on the gippsland coast.  horrible things

[Blueadventures]

1 hour ago, danny_galaga said:

Well, central anyway. I grew up in Darwin and I don't think I ever saw a scorpion. A BILLION cockroaches though. I don't miss those 😄

They can be found in tree bark, at night use a UV torch as they light up a bit.

[danny_galaga]

52 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

They can be found in tree bark, at night use a UV torch as they light up a bit.

No thanks 😄