Brazilian yellow scorpion sting
What it looks like: Usually nothing to see — intense burning pain out of proportion to the mark, minimal redness. Pattern: single site. Onset: immediate severe burning. Worst at: 30 minutes to 4 hours. Duration: pain and tingling can last 24 hours or more.
| Looks like | usually nothing to see — intense burning pain out of proportion to the mark |
|---|---|
| Pattern | single site |
| Size | 0–10 mm |
| Appears | immediate severe burning |
| Worst at | 30 minutes to 4 hours |
| Lasts | pain and tingling can last 24 hours or more |
| Itch | ●○○○○ 1/5 |
| Pain | ●●●●● 5/5 |
| Usually on | hands, feet — often a bare foot at night or a hand into stored items |
| Active | September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, night |
Not sure it is Brazilian yellow scorpion? The app reads the photo and names the likeliest cause. Download free iPhone & iPad · no account
How to tell it apart
Yellow-brown, with a distinctive serrated ridge on the tail. The sting leaves almost no mark and produces burning pain far worse than anything visible — that mismatch is the identifying feature.
Where and when you meet it
Habitat: urban Brazil in particular — drains, rubble, construction debris, behind skirting boards, inside shoes. It reproduces without males, which is why city populations grow quickly.
Where it is recorded
| Country | Records | Peak months there |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 1,096 | February |
| United States | 1 | — |
Verified records from the GBIF biodiversity database across the seven countries we cover. A country missing from this table means we have no records for it, not that the species is absent.
What it means for you
This is the most medically important scorpion in South America and the cause of most serious scorpion envenomation in Brazil. Adults usually have severe local pain and recover; young children are the group at real risk of systemic effects, and for them a sting is an emergency visit rather than something to watch at home.
Seek medical care if
- vomiting, sweating, agitation, rapid or irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing — emergency, especially in children under seven
- drooling or difficulty swallowing
- any sting in a young child or an older adult should be assessed
Care at home
- wash the area and apply a cold pack
- attend a health service for anything beyond local pain — antivenom is available in Brazil and time matters
- do not cut, suck or apply a tourniquet
Preventing the next one
- shake out shoes and clothing before putting them on
- seal gaps under doors and around drains
- keep rubble and building materials away from the house; control cockroaches, which are the food source
Common questions
Do Brazilian yellow scorpions sting humans?
Yellow-brown, with a distinctive serrated ridge on the tail. The sting leaves almost no mark and produces burning pain far worse than anything visible — that mismatch is the identifying feature.
What does a Brazilian yellow scorpion sting look like?
Usually nothing to see — intense burning pain out of proportion to the mark, minimal redness. Pattern: single site. Size: typically 0–10 mm across.
Does a Brazilian yellow scorpion sting hurt?
Pain is very severe (5 out of 5 on this site's scale) and itch is barely any itch (1 out of 5). Onset: immediate severe burning. Worst at: 30 minutes to 4 hours. Duration: pain and tingling can last 24 hours or more.
How do I know it was a brazilian yellow scorpion?
Yellow-brown, with a distinctive serrated ridge on the tail. The sting leaves almost no mark and produces burning pain far worse than anything visible — that mismatch is the identifying feature.
How long does a brazilian yellow scorpion sting last?
Duration: pain and tingling can last 24 hours or more. Worst at: 30 minutes to 4 hours.
When is it a problem?
Seek care for: vomiting, sweating, agitation, rapid or irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing — emergency, especially in children under seven; drooling or difficulty swallowing; any sting in a young child or an older adult should be assessed.
Can it transmit disease?
No human disease is known to be transmitted by this species in the United States. The practical risk is infection from scratching.
Get a photo assessment in the app
Everything above is free to read. The app adds what a page cannot: point your camera at the bite and get an assessment of the most likely cause, a severity read, and a day-by-day care plan — including the specific signs that mean you should be seen.
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