Las Vegas Tourist Has Disturbing Bug Encounter at Popular Venetian Resort
Most frequent travelers will agree that a bed bug infestation is one of the worst things one can encounter in a hotel room, especially if you don't catch it in time. Waking up in the middle of the night covered in itchy, painful bites and having your luggage infested is a miserable, potentially trip-ruining experience. But you know how it goes- things could always be worse.
How much worse? Well, one unfortunate tourist found out the hard way after his recent stay at the popular Venetian Resort in Las Vegas went horribly wrong. This guest probably wished his room just had a bed bug problem instead after enduring a bug encounter so traumatizing, he's now considering legal action against the resort!
Sin City guide @vegasstarfish said it best- new fear unlocked! She relayed the story of Michael Farchi who, while visiting Las Vegas over the holidays, got the worst wakeup call of his life. On December 26, around 8 am, Farchi was rudely awoken in his Venetian Las Vegas when a scorpion stung him in... well, just about the worst place a man can get stung. He swiftly leapt out of bed and took a picture of his "assailant," which was still hiding in his underwear.
According to Vegas Starfish, the Venetian comped Farchi's room, and the injured guest reportedly checked out early, complaining that he was experiencing "a lot of pain"- no surprises there. In the couple of months that followed, though, it seems that Farchi wanted more from the Venetian than a free hotel room, as he has now apparently retained legal counsel and reportedly plans to pursue legal action.
Whether or not Farchi's case will go far remains to be seen. Still, it's an important reminder to be on the lookout for more than just bed bugs when you're visiting Sin City. Las Vegas is located in the heart of the Mojave Desert, which is crawling with tons of scorpions. Vegas Starfish recommends checking for scorpions on walls, ceilings, and floors, as they can and do climb. She hints that they also glow brightly under a black light- but then again, so do a lot of other things. Not only will you find any scorpions easily that way, but you'll also find out how clean your hotel room really is...
How Dangerous Are Vegas Scorpions?
According to the Vegas-based pest control company Fortified Pest Management, there are four types of scorpions most commonly found in Las Vegas: the emperor scorpion, the wind scorpion, the giant hairy scorpion, and, most common of all, the bark scorpion. Judging by the size and color of the scorpion in Farchi's picture, his assailant was probably a bark scorpion.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a bark scorpion's sting is rarely life-threatening to healthy adults. However, their stings are extremely painful (especially if it's a sensitive site like Farchi's case), and can be accompanied by swelling, numbness, and warmth. In more serious cases, the bark scorpion's sting can cause full-body symptoms like nausea, slurred speech, and increased heart rate, but again, these symptoms are rare, usually documented in cases where small children are stung.
Even if a bark scorpion's sting won't likely kill you, it can be agonizing- especially if you get stung where Farchi did. If you weren't already vigilant about doing hotel room bed bug inspections before, hopefully this story will encourage you to check your rooms for all bugs- particularly if you're staying in the desert.
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