Scorpion stings traveller at Auckland Airport

Experts were last night puzzled about how a scorpion that stung a tourist ended up in Auckland Airport's domestic terminal.

Dale Rodel, of South Africa, was checking in for a flight yesterday when he felt a sharp pain in his foot and saw a 7cm scorpion embedded in his flesh.

The 19-year-old was last night recovering in Middlemore Hospital.

Biosecurity New Zealand staff collected the scorpion and swept the terminal for others.

They also inspected Mr Rodel's luggage and a hotel room where he stayed after arriving from South Africa on Sunday night.

Entomologists would likely know today the origin of the scorpion.