José María Morelos, Quintana Roo — With the arrival of the rainy season, scorpions, tarantulas and other arachnids are increasingly appearing in homes and urban areas of José María Morelos, sparking fear among many families. But a local biologist is urging residents not to kill them and instead relocate them.
Biologist Jherico Antonio Meléndez Cumi explained that the humidity of the season drives various species to seek food and shelter, making encounters inside homes more common.
“Water is life, and when there is humidity, the presence of insects and arachnids increases. Scorpions often enter homes looking for food, because they feed on other insects,” he said.
Meléndez recommended carefully removing the creatures and relocating them to patios or green areas, noting that they play an important role in the ecosystem by controlling pests such as cockroaches and other insects.
Regarding tarantulas, he clarified that while their appearance often causes fear, they rarely pose a danger to people.
“Sometimes we are afraid because of the hairs they have, but they are completely harmless. The hairs are irritating as a defense mechanism,” he said.
Meléndez added that these topics will be addressed in upcoming environmental education talks promoted by a project in public spaces in the municipality, aimed at fostering respect and conservation of local wildlife.
