A scorpion scuttling across her kitchen floor gave Carol Cook from Stansted, Essex, a huge shock on Tuesday morning.
She encountered the animal after opening a new box of Weetabix cereal and fears it was lurking in the carton.
The angry arthropod reared up at Carol and raised its tail in a characteristic show of aggression.
Carol, who is in her early 50s, and husband Gary subdued the brown beast
with a sheet of paper and a plastic container before seeking advice
from the RSPCA and Uttlesford District Council’s environmental health
department.
She said that both told her that the scorpion’s brown colouring was a
comforting sign - as the most venomous versions are black.
Mrs Cook estimated her intruder was around three inches long – or
around 7.6cm.
She said husband Gary was unperturbed by their visitor: “He said ‘Calm
down, calm down’ but I’ve seen the film, The Scorpion King.
When I saw its tail lifting up, it was quite scary, because you are
aware it could sting.”
She was anxious to find out more about the creature, which now appears
to be dead.
Mrs Cook said: “I would like someone to say what it is - and whether or
not I should have worried about it.”
Although scorpions are found on every continent except Antarctica, she speculated global warming might be playing a part in her discovery. Scorpions are not native to the UK but colonies have been established after the species was introduced. In all, around 1,750 species of scorpions have been identified. Of these, only about 25 are known to have venom capable of killing a human. Iain Newby, who runs Dangerous Wild Animal Rescue Facility, in Great Wakering, Essex, said it "could be something quite venomous". He added: "It might have been in the cardboard packaging during shipping, or in the factory, or it could have come from somewhere completely different."
She said husband Gary was unperturbed by their visitor: “He said ‘Calm
down, calm down’ but I’ve seen the film, The Scorpion King.
When I saw its tail lifting up, it was quite scary, because you are
aware it could sting.”
She was anxious to find out more about the creature, which now appears
to be dead.
Mrs Cook said: “I would like someone to say what it is - and whether or
not I should have worried about it.”
Although scorpions are found on every continent except Antarctica, she speculated global warming might be playing a part in her discovery. Scorpions are not native to the UK but colonies have been established after the species was introduced. In all, around 1,750 species of scorpions have been identified. Of these, only about 25 are known to have venom capable of killing a human. Iain Newby, who runs Dangerous Wild Animal Rescue Facility, in Great Wakering, Essex, said it "could be something quite venomous". He added: "It might have been in the cardboard packaging during shipping, or in the factory, or it could have come from somewhere completely different."
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