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Italy Chronicles

The Italy You Don't Know

Home » Summer Features » A Spider in Bed? This is Much Worse

A Spider in Bed? This is Much Worse

March 22, 2011 by Alex Roe

You probably don’t like finding a spider in bed. Well, imagine if that spider stings. Scorpions belong to the same family as spiders, except, as you might know, scorpions sting. Now, did you know that Italy has scorpions? No? Well it does and some of these little blighters like nothing more than to explore beds.

My Italian other half’s parents used to have a house in the hilly woodland which sits behind the coastline of Liguria. She hated going to the place because a) she’s not a great fan of greenery, and b) she hated the little black scorpions with a vengeance!

When we were staying at her parents’ country place, bedtime was punctuated by scorpion induced screams of panic.

The little beasts move very quickly and it’s not at all easy to swat them, I can tell you!

Just to make life a little more thrilling, and unlike a spider in bed (which might bite), these little fellows can sting, but their stings only, er, sting in August. Exactly the time of year 99.99% of Italy’s population is on holiday. August is also the time when lots of non-Italians come to sample the delights of Italy too.

If you are coming to Italy in August, you might have a close encounter with an Italian scorpion, or two.

An Italian Euscorpius italicus Scorpion
That spider in bed may be an Italian Euscorpius italicus Scorpion!

Apparently scorpions can be found all over the Italian peninsula, and they certainly are in the hills along Italy’s lovely Liguria coastline – to this, I can attest having seen the little chaps scuttling up walls in the midst of summer, and after having hunted them after they’ve left the warmth of the bedclothes.

The Spider in Bed Might Bite but Scorpion’s Sting!

I’m told that the sting the scorpions common to Liguria can inflict in August is about the same pain-wise as that of a bee or wasp, so you don’t have to rush off the hospital if one of these beasties gets you. So far, I’m happy to report, I have not been stung by an Italian scorpion, or scorpions of any other nationality, for that matter.

However, if you are someone who is allergic to bee and wasp stings, you may well need to go and see a doctor – just to be on the safe side – otherwise I’m told the effects of the sting can become deadly. A frightening thought!

Anyway, don’t worry too much about scorpions invading your bed when you are staying in Liguria or any other country area of Italy – but do remember to check your bed before climbing in – just in case. And take a look at your children’s beds too, otherwise your sleep may be interrupted by sudden blood curdling screams!

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Filed Under: Summer Features, Travel Tagged With: Genoa, Liguria

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Comments

  1. Eleni says

    May 25, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    Hi Alex,
    Thanks for the warning, we are traveling to Rome, Florence (Tuscany) and the Amalfi coast at the beginning of July for 2 weeks, should I worry about running into these scary creatures at these locations and at this time of the year? Yikes…
    Thanks, Eleni

    • Alex Roe says

      May 26, 2015 at 8:56 pm

      You might run into them, Eleni, but they shouldn’t be able to sting. From what I’ve been told and read, they are only venomous in August. They tend to come out in the evenings and scuttle up walls. Few seem to complain about scorpions in beds, so it’s not a major problem even if my Italian better half might disagree!

      If you see any, pop back here and let us all know, if you like 🙂

      Cheers,

      Alex

  2. Gilda says

    February 15, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    OMG!!

    All the comments seem to be geared towards northern italy, how about the abbruzzo region? We have a summer home near Vasto a nd this past summer summer got one. My husband is allergic to bee’s, any info on Abbruzzo?

    • Alex Roe says

      February 16, 2015 at 8:44 am

      Hi Gilda,

      There are scorpions in Abruzzo too and they can sting – indeed, scorpions can be found all over Italy.

      If someone is allergic to bee and wasp stings, then they may well be allergic to scorpion stings too although you’d need to consult a doctor to be on the safe side. To be certain, anyone who is allergic who is stung in Abruzzo or anywhere else in Italy should contact a doctor as soon as possible. The consequences of this allergy, though rare, can be deadly.

      Self-injected doses of epinephrine (adrenaline) can, I understand (I’m not a doctor) limit allergic reactions so those known to be vulnerable should keep a syringe handy. Ask a doctor about this.

      In country areas, checking the bed clothes before going to bed is a good idea – I know, I’ve seen scorpions in beds!

      Best,

      Alex

  3. DR says

    September 30, 2013 at 8:58 pm

    Just found one in our holiday villa by lake Como. Bit of a surprise – never seen one before!

  4. Joe says

    September 17, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    We stay at my wife’s parents apartment near Imola for a few weeks most summers. It’s a ground floor apartment in a 400 year old family condo. We’ve encountered at least one scorpion in our bedroom almost every year, usually on the walls at night, so far never in bed. We went in August this summer and I spotted and squished three! Just found out here that they only ‘sting’ in August. Greeeaaat! A few years ago after returning from italy I found a 1 cm baby scorpion crawling out of my suitcase back home in Canada while unpacking. Good thing I had white carpeting to easily spot the little critter.

    • Alex Roe says

      September 17, 2013 at 6:30 pm

      Hi Joe,

      Don’t worry too much about the stinging thing, while they can, they rarely seem to, though they might if they are still in the bed when you get in!
      As you seem to well know, rather than stinging, they tend to run away when discovered.

      Fun to hear you imported one into Canada – glad the customs people did not catch you! Probably a fine for illicit scorpion imports!

      Don’t worry too much about the critters, but being aware they exist is worthwhile, I feel.

      Cheers,

      Alex

      PS Never seen one in Milan.

  5. Alan Howes says

    September 12, 2013 at 8:36 am

    Well, we’ve just found two within 12 hours in our holiday let by Lake Garda. But at least we have them identified now, and it is now September …

    • Alex Roe says

      September 16, 2013 at 9:44 am

      Apparently, Alan, Italy’s scorpions only sting in August, so you should be OK.

      Best,

      Alex

  6. Sammy says

    August 30, 2013 at 4:40 am

    I’m a tourist from Australia staying in Bellagio, Lago Como. Just now I was lying in bed & could hear a clicking sound. Turned the light on to see something that looked like a scorpian scuttling along the floor! We don’t have these in Australia so I had to google to make sure my eyes were telling the truth! I managed to flick it over the balcony but now I am scared I’m going to find many more! In my bed, suitcase, shoes! And to read they sting in August is scary. It’s 30 th today! at least now I know what to do since reading this thread so thank you!

  7. Tory says

    August 28, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    I live in Vicenza in a 17th century house in August and there is one standing between me and the exit to this house RIGHT NOW!!!! Pretty sure it’s trying to scare me because it won’t leave the top of the doorway I would have to walk through! !!!!

    • Alex Roe says

      August 28, 2013 at 3:20 pm

      It’s August, their stings sting this month, so the little fella is feeling braver than usual and smells your fear!

  8. Diana Lawton says

    July 19, 2013 at 7:57 am

    Just caught one during our holidays in cortona! Found it outside last night but couldn’t catch it so went inside quickly! Woke up this morning to my husband finding it or one of its friends in his shorts!!! So glad we’re moving to a modern hotel in central rome!!!!!!

  9. Chris Done says

    August 25, 2012 at 1:41 am

    I came googling to see if these buggers were poisonous. I live in Trento (near Verona), and I’ve seen these around before. Once outside my apartment, and just now, I actually heard one walking towards me, knocking against the skirting board. Here he is: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/62227452/Photos/scorpie-caught.jpg

    So now I know what I’m doing tomorrow. Clearing out my apartment to make sure there are no more of these little sods here.

    • Alex Roe says

      August 27, 2012 at 11:46 am

      Well, Chris, as you have discovered, they can be poisonous, although their stings are likely to be something like a wasp sting. Irritating, but not lethal for most people.

      You must have very acute hearing to be able to notice one! I’ve never heard the things, although I have seen them and assisted in removing them from beds.

      Good luck with the scorpion eradication campaign – but you’ll never be rid of the completely – they hide in the woods!

      Cheers from Milan, and happy programming,

      Alex

  10. Gabi says

    June 22, 2012 at 8:09 am

    I have scorpions living in my house near Lake Bracciano! The first time I saw one was when my cat killed it and left it in her bed but she must have been stung because my three cats all leave them alone now. I suck them up with my vacuum cleaner. If they’re really scared they’ll stop, open their claws and raise their tails and are easy to catch. I see about one per week and last summer I was stung because one was on the side of my trousers and my hand brushes against it when I was putting them on. I screamed so loudly my husband thought I was being murdered! I put some aloe&tea tree gel on it and it didn’t sting for long. Much less than a wasp sting so I’m not so scared now. A friend of mine says she has them at home in Venice.

  11. Julie says

    June 17, 2012 at 3:39 am

    I was travelling through Northern Italy a few years ago and had one of those buggers sting me on my shin while in my bunk. My leg hurt for about 3-4 days and swelling appeared at the site of the sting. This was in Padua. The author is correct about not being able to catch them…they are quite fast. I wanted to make sure it was not deadly or very harmful, but could not capture it as a sample.

  12. Toni says

    May 26, 2012 at 12:18 am

    OMG so was heading to put my pyjamas on when to my horror i found a scorpian. Luckily my partner was around to dispose of it. Now i am absolutely petrified to go to bed and also very concerned for my 7 month old daughter too, especially after reading on here that they like warm cosy beds…………
    (so do i but maybe not now).

    We do live up a mountain not far from Naples.

    Toni

  13. Kathy says

    March 26, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    Never seen one here in Sicily.. even after 25 years most of which in the country. Maybe they like the Genovese people best.

    • Alex Roe says

      March 26, 2012 at 3:52 pm

      Interesting. No little stingers in Sicily, or at least you have not come across any in the last 25 years!

      As you say, must be the Genovese which attract the little blighters. Or maybe the little pests have a penchant for pesto 😉

      Cheers,

      Alex

  14. Charles says

    November 2, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    Just became aware that Italy has these fun little guys via my wife’s scream. A big one as I have since learned. Never thought I would see a scorpion in Italy let alone in downtown Vicenza on the 4th floor of a building. It is an old 17th century place though, as earlier posts have pointed out… They like old places! Thanks for the pointers and education about these little critters.

  15. Tom says

    August 18, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    my dad was hpyer allergic to their stings and got stung whilst in italy, worst holiday ever, wish i could see him one last time
    never going to italy again

  16. Trudy says

    May 31, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Ahhhh! We live in north-eastern Italy. Right at the bottom of the mountains. Our Italian friend told us that they LOVE really old houses. Well the house we are living in was built in the late 1700’s. We found a really huge scorpion by the bathroom on the 3rd floor…needless to say, I lost lots of sleep! And tonight our 8 year old son was about to get in bed and saw a smaller one(about 1 inch long) on the wall above his bed!! He was pretty cool about the whole ordeal(my husband catching it in a cup and tossing it out the 2nd floor window) I however wanted to vomit! I am very much affraid of them. Was stung by one while visiting family in Texas when I was about 9 years old. And let me tell you, there are some dangerous scorpions in Texas! Luckily the one that stung me was much like the ones I hear about here!
    Either way…I am not a fan and will now lose sleep tonight..haha!

    • Alex Roe says

      June 1, 2011 at 9:50 am

      Mice like old houses too Trudy!

      As you have discovered, Italy does have scorpions and one or two other bugs and beasties you probably would not like to come across.

      Don’t be afraid of the little blighters! They only sting in August – the rest of the time they flit around silently and probably help keep other little pests at bay.

      And as you know, Italian scorpions are nowhere near as bad at their Texan cousins!

      Sweet dreams!

      Best,

      Alex

  17. William says

    March 29, 2011 at 8:16 pm

    i got bitten by a Scorpian in Italy several years ago. At the time it was horrifically scarey, however i soon calmed downed once a local told me the side affects (or lack of). It’s the kind of thing you expect to seen in the rain forest, not Italy!

    • Alex Roe says

      March 29, 2011 at 9:01 pm

      What William? You mean these little blighters bite and sting? Eek!

      And I’ve been told the scorpion’s bite/sting is not too much of a big deal. Not sure I’d expect to see a scorpion in a rain forest, more something I’d expect to see in a desert. Just me.

      Cheers,

      Alex

      • William says

        April 4, 2011 at 11:50 am

        Alex,

        Of course your right! I mean’t dessert not rain forest.

        Cheers

  18. Enrico Pelos says

    March 26, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    Well you can find scorpions even on trekking trails in Spring time but are not so terrible as they seem. We also have snakes, vipers, and now wolves too. Don’t be scared and come to Liguria safely our blue sea is waiting for you and sharks are not in the horizon.. up today … After all if you go to Africa you would expect some sand and hot…. after all…

  19. Enrico Pelos says

    March 26, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    Well we have scorpions also around trekking trails and vipers and snakes and now wolves too. But you can’t always get what you want…. If I go to Africa I am well aware of finding sand and hot… Come safely over Liguria… it not so dangerous as it seems… and the blue sea has no shark up to now …

  20. Danielle says

    March 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    Oh my, we’ve got them in Rome too! One was spotted in our ground floor office a few months ago, che terrore!

    • Alex Roe says

      March 26, 2011 at 3:38 pm

      What? Scorpions in Rome? Did not think the little blighters liked cities too much – but I’m wrong. Scorpions seem to like Genoa too!

      Yes, they are spooky creatures.

      Best,

      Alex

  21. Di says

    March 22, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    I ‘met’ one of those guys in a shop in Genova … they thought it might have come in with the vegetables. I had it pointed out to me when it was less than a metre from my foot. My Genovese friend said she had never ever seen one in the city. Oddly enough, I didn’t feel blessed.
    Was in Lerici this month, and checked my shoes before slipping out in the dark with my camera equipment. My Parma-based friend laughed and said, ‘No scorpions’ only to have her partner say, ‘well yes, scorpions here’….
    Did I mention, I really really don’t like scorpions.

    • Alex Roe says

      March 22, 2011 at 10:45 pm

      Hi Di,
      I’ve never seen the things in Genoa itself – but seeing as much of the city is surrounded by greenery, it does not surprise me too much.

      I’m not a huge fan of scorpions either, even if they say they only sting in August.

      Best,

      Alex

      • Antonella says

        March 26, 2011 at 6:24 pm

        Only in those mounths with ‘r’ as September ..etc…but I am surprised! Anyway, they like hot and dry temperature…and in NYC, where I live, there is much MUCH more into people’s beds!!!! Blaaaaaaaaaaa

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