Taking the Sting out of Scorpions

NOW HANG ON, don’t go calling the tree-huggers or the animal police, I am only talking figuratively here.  
Anyone who has spent any time in Puerto, has at one time or the other had an ecounter with a scorpion. 
I have lived here almost forty years and I can’t remember any year when I wasn’t visited at least once.  However, until recently, every sighting was ended with a quick slap of a shoe, or other such weapon.  I realized at some point that my actions were born out of fear and ignorance, so I began collecting and studying scorpions.
Since then, I learned that there are about fifteen hundred known species of scorpions and they are present everywhere in the world with the exception of Antarctica and New Zealand.  Mexico is known to house more species per its land mass than any other country in the world.  No wonder we get such regular visits.
The scorpions that we have here are only life-threatening to a young baby, or an unhealthy older adult.  The exception would be if you happened to have an allergy to the venom such as those people who are allergic to bee stings.  Anaphylactic shock may result from the sting if you have this allergy. 
In all cases, it is highly advised to stay away from the pointy end of a scorpion.  The most common effects of a scorpion sting is a tingling sensation in the lips, along with feeling light-headed.  Some mild swelling of the tongue can also occur.  Generally, these effects are most pronounced during the first hour and a half, then they subside.  (If any of these symptoms are acute, it would be a good idea to get medical attention.)
After one year of study, I have learned much from our little friends.  Scorpions have many more enemies than they have prey.  Birds are the number one scorpion killer and they are well equipped to quickly snap off the stinger, leaving the scorpion totally vulnerable
      Scorpions appear to mate and stay close to their mates.  I have witnessed the scorpion love dance and have gone through two births.  Each mother gave birth to approximately forty babies.  They are born alive and quickly crawl onto the mother’s back, where they will stay for the first two weeks of their life.  After their first molt, the babies simply walk away and begin their life alone.  Local rumor has it that the babies eat their mother, as their first meal, but nothing I have witnessed or read supports this idea.
I have also learned that although scorpions are widely feared, they are really gentle souls.  Unless they are out hunting, (and believe me, humans are not in their food chain) they are not aggressive and simply want to be left alone.  Of course if they happen to crawl into our beds, and we unwittingly roll over on them, it won’t end nicely.  However, after one year’s study,  I have totally lost my fear of them and no longer look for a shoe when I see them crawling across my floor.