how to get rid of scorpions

How to Get Rid of Scorpions? Natural, Herbal, and Chemical Treatment

ByBugControl Staff

Scorpions belong to the order Scorpiones and they are predatory arachnids. Though they mainly live in deserts, they are known to adapt to various environmental conditions. The evolution of scorpions dates back as much as 435 million years. They possess a distinguishing body structure with a pair of grasping pincers, a narrow, segmented tail, a characteristic forward curve ending with a stinger, and has eight legs.

There are around 2500 described species and about 22 families recognized. Scorpions feed on insects and other invertebrates but some species prey on vertebrates. They use their poisonous sting to kill the prey and also as a defense. Only about 30 species are known to have venom that can kill humans.

We can see the following types –

  • Albino Scorpions – When arthropods like scorpions grow, they have to shed their skin. This new skin is usually white and soft; however, it gets dark as it hardens. The molting process and time after that are very important for scorpions. The risks of complications in the process are high.

    After molting, the body of scorpions will be very soft and this is the time when they can become easy prey.
  • Black Scorpions (Heterometrus longimanus) – This is a resident of tropical Asian regions. Black scorpions live under natural debris and logs.

    They burrow to some extent but mostly they are above ground and prey insects for food. Their venom is not considered dangerous but their sting is powerful enough to give pain. The average length is over 10 cm. and the period is medium to long of about 8 years.

    They are territorial but may be aggressive towards other members of their species.

  • Blue Scorpions (Centruroides gracilis) – They are found in the US, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. In nature, blue scorpions live under stones and barks and dead or fallen timber. They can survive under the temperature of 30° Celsius if it is not humid.

    They are not observed to show wild behavior and in many areas, they are kept as pets. 
  • Emperor Scorpions (Pandinus imperator) – They are one of the largest scorpions that can go for as long as 23 cm.

    They vary in dark brown to green color but are mostly seen as having glossy black bodies. These can reflect the ultraviolet light rays, so, under black light they glow in a blue hue. The red color of their stinger and claws become darker with each molting phase. Males and females look very similar but males are a little smaller and narrower.

  • Deathstalker Scorpions (Genus Leiurus) – As the name suggest, they have very potent venom. They are found in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

    They possess desert and similar habitats. They are burrowing species and also can survive in dry forests. Their venom is fatal and can be deadly to people having poor health.  
  • Lesser Brown Scorpions (Isometrus maculates) – They live for about 3 to 5 years and are found in tropical areas like Hawaii.

    They are nocturnal and feed on insects like millipedes, small rodents, and spiders. Their long tails end in a stinger. It has four pairs of clawed legs and its pincers look like crab claws. The globulous organ at the stinger produces venom. Humans will experience pain and swelling if bitten.

  • Pseudo Scorpions – Because this species does not have characteristics of long-tail and sting, they are called pseudoscorpions. They are as small as 2 to 8 cm.

    One can see them at places like behind tree bark, under stones, leaves and pine litter, caves, tree hollows, fractured rocks, seashore, and below the soil. They go through three molts which can last for many years. The adult lives up to two to three years. They prey on mites, carpet beetle larvae, ants, small, flies, clothes moth larvae, and booklice.   

There are many other species such as Red Claw Scorpions, Red Scorpions, Sand Scorpions, Tailless Whip Scorpions, and Whip Scorpions.  

How to Get Rid of Indoor Scorpions?

Scorpions are considered common household pests. These are arachnids and are found in southern parts of the US. The largest varieties are, however, found in desert regions. Since they are nocturnal, they are active at night while preferring to stay hidden during the day.

Therefore, you can treat them at night when they are active. This includes several methods.

Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Indoor Scorpions

While you are observing some scorpion activity in your home at night, you start thinking about how to get rid of them. You can apply some natural home remedies to get rid of them, as described below –

  • Remove excess moisture – The purpose of scorpions entering a house is water and food.

    If you can keep floors, closets, corners, and crawling places dry and leak-proof, then they might leave the house even if there is food for them but no water.
  • Remove their food source – If you have activity of roaches, ants, etc. in your house, you may have scorpions too. To keep the insect’s activities down you can do the following things –

  • Apply borax or diatomaceous earth powder around the baseboards and under the sinks in your home. This will kill insects.
  • Repeat this outdoor too, as scorpions mostly live outdoors.
  • Do not let any food for the insects in your house. Do the cleaning immediately after eating.
  • Use natural insecticides to keep away the insects.
  • Remove shelter of scorpions – Scorpions like dark places. So, if you do the following things, you can avoid them in your house.

  • Keep boxes on shelves and not on the floor.
  • Don’t keep trash around in the house.
  • Scorpions like to hide in shoes and piles of cloths, so, take care to keep them properly.
  • Seal the gaps – Scorpions can crawl through very thin openings. Hence, properly seal the windows, doors, and floor gaps.

    The holes or cracks in the wall can be seal with caulk. Close windows tightly and screens sealed. Use door seals to prevent them from entering through the door-floor gap.
  • Use tools to kill them – To hunt them at night, use a black night lamp as they glow. Use the long-handled tweezers to break the exoskeleton of the scorpions.

    You can also opt for a knife or heavy shoes to kill them.
  • Sticky traps – The sticky traps that you might be using to catch insects or mice, can work well on scorpions too. This trap can be laid near water or in dark corners to catch scorpions as they come for water and hide in dark places.
  • Natural predators – You can encourage cats or chickens as they can hunt the scorpions.
  • Cinnamon – Sprinkle cinnamon around the house. Since cinnamon is a natural scorpion repellent, you can sprinkle it around the baseboards, windowsills, and dark areas of your house to get rid of them.
  • Burlap trap – A moistened burlap sack makes an effective scorpion trap. You just have to wet the sack and keep in the areas like attics, basements, and the entry door.

    Leave the bag open overnight and inspect it the next day carefully.
  • Essential oils – Cedar, lavender, peppermint, and cinnamon are all essential oils that deter scorpions and many other insects. One can dilute any of them or in combination.

    Consider spraying it along the areas of scorpions’ activity.
  • Boric Acid – Sprinkle the boric acid generously at suspected places. Boric acid is non-toxic to humans but deadly for pests and insects. When they ingest it, their exoskeleton gets damaged and kills them affecting their nervous system.
  • Neem oil – It is an herbal insecticide which is used to repel many insects and pests. The active ingredient, azadirachtin, destabilizes the internal system of the pests that makes them incapable of reproducing.
  • Diatomaceous earth – Diatomaceous earth is also a non-toxic powder that does not harm humans and pets.

    Pour the powder around your house wisely. When the scorpions come in contact with this powder they get scorched and dehydrated. This gets them killed instantly.    

How to Get Rid of Scorpions with Pets in House?

When you have pets in your house, you need to carefully treat the scorpions. As we know scorpions are nocturnal and enter our house for food and water at night. When you have pets in the house, you must ensure all the gaps through which scorpions can crawl, are sealed. There should not be even a tiny gap for them to enter.

Since the exoskeleton of scorpions is very tough, bug sprays and powder will not work on them immediately. It takes around 7 to 14 days to penetrate through their skin. Therefore, you need to take preventive action for not letting them in, in the first place.

You can try boric acid powder at the entrance or near gaps. Boric acid is a strong repellent of scorpions and if ingested, it disturbs their internal system. Also, you can try it indoors and outdoors where your pet rests.

Sprinkle it wisely to prevent the scorpions around your pets.

Chemical Treatment to Get Rid of Indoor Scorpions

If you want to get rid of scorpions for a longer time and avoid the re-occurrence around your home, you can try the following chemical treatment – 

  • Demon WP 4 Water Soluble Sachets – This easily mixable product have the following features –
    • Low odor
    • Up to 90 days of residual activity
    • Convenient and easy to mix water-soluble sachets
    • Pest knockdown occurs in less than 1 hour
    • The mixture do not clog the spraying equipment
    • Can be applied both on porous and non-porous surfaces
  • Catchmaster 288i Professional Bug Trap and Monitor – It is perfect for use in homes, schools, offices, restaurants, daycare centers, bars, medical facilities, etc and has the following features –
    • Very economical with low cost
    • Disposable and biodegradable
    • Natural vanilla attractant
    • You can lay it flat, hang upside down, or sideways
    • No chemicals, no mess
  • Onslaught Fastcap Spider Scorpion Insecticide – It contains IGR Nyguard IGR Concentrate that breaks the insect cycle growth and controls the potent future insect population.

    It can be used as a crack and crevice treatment, spot treatment, broadcast surface treatment, perimeter treatment, tank mix or use alone, inject into wall voids, foliar spray treatment.
  • Talstar PL Granular Insecticide – It is a coarse granular insecticide that provides protection from insects on a long-term basis for up to four months. This features –
     
    • Gives effective and long-term protection
    • No watering needed to penetrate mulch and grass
    • Broadcast insecticide granules
    • Sand core granular structure that provide 2 to 4 month residual
  • Talstar Professional Insecticide – Noted features are
    • Long-lasting residual control of pests
    • Also, destroys fire ant colonies
    • Effective on more than 75 pests
    • Approved for multiple use sites
    • Non-staining and no unsightly residues or phytotoxicity
  • Transport Mikron Insecticide – It has a special microemulsion formulation that is 100 times smaller than other emulsifiable products and thousand times smaller than micro-encapsulated products.

    The features include –
    • Clear formulation
    • Better insect penetration
    • More coverage
    • More stability
  • Zenprox EC Insecticide – It can control over 25 types of insects due to broad-spectrum concentrate. It has extended residual control and is a quick knockdown insecticide. Features are –
    • Kills adult fleas
    • Contains etofenprox
    • Broad-spectrum pest control
    • Non-repellent formula that kills on contact
    • Can be used indoors and commercial buildings
  • Demand CS Insecticide Concentrate – It controls numerous insects. It has iCAP Capsule Suspension technology that enables to release it slowly till over 200 days.

    Features are –
    • Very low mixing rate and hence, very economical
    • Odourless, non-staining
    • iCAP Capsule Suspension for up to 200+ day residual
    • Excellent for perimeter treatment
  • Suspend SC Insecticide – Suspend SC insecticide is an advanced pyrethroid that controls over 50 pests. It provides fast knockdown with a long residual.

    Features are –
    • 90 – 120 days residual
    • Works at low and high concentrations
    • No odor
    • No visible residue
    • Works on porous surface
  • Bifen IT Insecticide – It is a professional strength insecticide. The product has a long-lasting residual effect that lasts for months. Features are –
    • Controls numerous pests
    • Professional strength insecticide
    • Long-lasting residual for up to 5 years
    • Safe for use in and around pets, poultry houses.

How to Get Rid of Outdoor Scorpions?

To control the scorpions outdoor is a laborious task and will need more time to spend on it. Before going on to remedies, we can see some tips on how to prevent them –

  • Use yellow outdoor bulbs
  • Keep home dry and cluster-free
  • Do not pile up firewood and debris
  • Ensure to wear protective equipment while hunting.

Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Outdoor Scorpions  

Whenever possible, implement simple natural home remedies to get rid of pests and insects.

Here, to prevent the scorpions, what you need to do is described below. If you follow these methods, you may be successful in keeping them at bay.

  • Keep the house and garden dry – Scorpions love moist and dark places. While you are watering the plants or lawn, do not overwater them. This will keep the moisture in control.

    Keep the garden dry as much as possible. Remove piles of logs from outdoors.
  • Scorpion predator – Pets like dogs and cats like to hunt the scorpions. Having chicken in the garden area is also one of the better options.

    The hunting of scorpions from predators must be instinctive and not forceful.
  • Keep outdoor free from debris – Wood piles and debris in your yard can be an open invitation to the scorpions. Keep your yard free of leaves, piles, and debris to prevent them from entering your property.
  • Use Sticky traps – You can place them on the trail of their activity. This will be as effective as it is for catching lizards, mice, and rats.
  • Scorpion deterrent plants – You can grow the plants like lavender as these plants are natural scorpion-repellents. The scorpions do not like the smell of lavender and they will keep away from your area.
  • Diatomaceous Earth – Sprinkle some diatomaceous earth powder depending upon the infestation.

    When this powder is spread around, it works just like borax and gives a similar effect in keeping the scorpions away.
  • Control scorpion food – Once you control the food source of scorpions, it is unlikely that they will enter your area. Also, if you keep your area dry, then, they will be prevented from coming to your place.

Chemical Treatment to Get Rid of Outdoor Scorpions

There are some effective chemicals available to get rid of or kill pests and insects. Some chemicals are non-hazardous but others are. If you want to go for a chemical treatment to get rid of scorpions, get help from professionals as they are well aware of these chemicals. They are trained to handle and store these pesticides.

Below is a list of chemicals, that are effective in controlling outdoor scorpions. Some can be used for indoor treatment too.

  • Demand CS Insecticide – Demand CS Insecticide application/mixing rate –
    • 8 oz. bottle makes 40 gallons of finished spray
    • Light infestation – 0.015%
    • Medium infestation – 0.03%
    • Severe infestation – 0.06%
    • Active ingredient – Lambda-cyhalothrin
  • Onslaught FASTCAP Insecticide – Areas of use are –
    • Outdoor perimeter treatment to areas such as garbage cans, patios, porches, garages, along fence lines
    • On trees, lawns, turf, and landscapes
    • In and around livestock housing
    • Contains Esfenvalerate 6.4%, Prallethrin 1.6%, and Piperonyl butoxide 8%
  • Bifen IT Insecticide – It has a wide range of application places that consist of homes, schools, restaurants, ships, food manufacturing plants, dairy plants, canneries, breweries, nursing homes, buildings, laboratories, railcars, cafeterias, trucks, vessels, food service establishments, wineries, hospitals, etc.

    Bifen IT Insecticide has active ingredient Bifenthrin 7.9%.
  • Transport Mikron Insecticide – You can apply it as a pinstream, crack and crevice, spot, or perimeter spray on and around outdoors of residential and non-residential buildings, exterior siding, window frames, porches, garages, patios, and many other places.

    The active ingredients in Transport Mikron Insecticide are Acetamiprid 5% and Bifenthrin 6%.
  • Catchmaster Bug Trap – One can use these traps as per space requirement.

    Use 1 trap per room or 1 trap per 100 sq. ft. area. This is best for indoors but can be used just outside the house entry on windowsills, porch, etc. Peel off protective paper of sticky surface and hang or place it near door entry.
  • Zenoprox EC – Can be used in mixing rate as below
    • Broadcast  – 2 fl oz/gallon/1000 sq. ft.
    • Spot or crack and crevice – 2 fl oz/gallon/1000 sq. ft.
    • Repeat treatment after 14 days
    • Active ingredients are Etofenprox 16.2% and Piperonyl butoxide 64.8%
  • Suspend SC Insecticide – Uses/ Applications –
     
    • 16 oz. bottle makes around 64 gallons of mix
    • Can be used in cargo for pest control.
    • Apart from that, it can be widely used in commercial and non-commercial places in large areas.
    • It contains Deltamethrin 4.75%
  • Talstar Professional Insecticide – It gives reliable and long-lasting protection for outside and perimeter tasks. By applying this broadcast application, you can prevent the re-infestation. It is non-staining and odorless.

    It contains Bifenthrin 7.9% as an active ingredient.
  • Talstar PL Granular Insecticide – Use on lawns and perimeters around residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial buildings. Granules can be spread easily.

    It contains Bifenthrin 0.2% as an active ingredient.
  • Demon WP Insecticide – These are water-soluble sachets with applications
    • 0.1% – 1 water-soluble sachet in 1 gallon of water
    • 0.2% – 2 water-soluble sachets in 1 gallon of water.
    • The active ingredient is Cypermethrin 40%

How to Get Rid of Scorpions in Your Yard?

Since scorpions have long life span than other insects, you may find them residing in your house till they are able to prey on others. If you want to control the infestation in your yard, then, you need to take the following precautionary measures –

  • The first recommendation is you must keep your yard well maintained.

    To keep the scorpions away you even need to remove stones from your yard along with trash. A well-organized and clean yard will not leave any place of harborage for the scorpions.

  • Ensure that all your entry points are sealed and if there is any crack on the outer side, seal it with caulk.

  • Do not leave excess moisture anywhere. You must remove sources of moisture such as stagnant water.

  • The use of effective insecticides around your yard will help keep the scorpions away from your place. You can use spray or powder type of insecticides for effectiveness.

How to Get Rid of Scorpions from Trees?

To prevent the scorpions from nesting in your trees, you must remove their food source like insects. Therefore, you need to give more attention to adding some bug-repellent trees in your garden.

If you plan properly to plant the trees around the foundation of your house, you can repel bugs with the help of these natural repellents.

You can plan some following methods to get rid of scorpions –

Ways to Get Rid of Scorpions from Trees

  • You can plant plants Fennel, Chrysanthemums, Rosemary, Garlic, Catnip, and Lavender.
  • Sprinkle diatomaceous earth powder around your area to repel bugs as well as scorpions.
  • Scorpions take shelter by burrowing where they can. They usually hide below rocks. If you have such rocks, you must remove them and place small pebbles.
  • Having a fence wall will give you protection, but it will also give harborage to scorpions. You have to seal up the wall with exterior caulk and eliminate the possibility of scorpions invading.
  • Do not overwater your garden or trees. Since scorpions can survive in the moistened area, you will be allowing them to enter. Keep your watering to a minimum.
  • There is a very simple way to avoid scorpions and that is to keep it very clean. If you keep your surroundings neat and clean, there will be no hiding place for scorpions.

How to Find Scorpion Nests?

As a requirement, the scorpions need to preserve the water for survival. Therefore, when they are not out to prey, they can be found in building concrete joints if it is indoors.

If they are outdoors, they will hide under rocks or bark to maintain their body moisture. Bark scorpions like to shelter in the buildings. You may even find them in walls sometimes.

How to Treat Scorpion Bites?

The scorpion bite gives severe pain and is very extreme. The redness or swelling can be seen in 5 minutes. More severe symptoms, if there are any, will occur within an hour. 30 venomous species can prove fatal on biting.

When you get a scorpion bite, it is better to see a doctor as we can’t identify the sting whether it is venomous or not. Because of the risk of side effects, scorpion anti-venom is used very cautiously.

Symptoms at the site of the bite can be –

  • Intense pain.
  • Tingling and numbness around sting.
  • Swelling around the sting.
  • Breathing difficulties.
  • Muscle twitching.
  • Dribbling or drooling.
  • Vomiting.

In most cases, one does not need treatment on scorpion sting.

However, if the symptoms are severe, you may need to take treatment in a hospital. You might be treated with intravenous drugs to reduce pain. In children, anti-venom may be given to avoid the emergence of symptoms. 

FAQs

How to Get Rid of Scorpios under Pavers?

The scorpions like to hide in moist areas. To avoid them under pavers, you can seal if there is any crack, with caulk.

How to Get Rid of Scorpions around Pool?

If you want to get rid of scorpions around the pool, the best way is to prevent small insects like mites, ants, etc. to be around the pool.

If there is no food for them, they won’t hang around the pool.

How to Get Rid of Scorpions with Wings?

To get rid of scorpionflies, you can implement the sticky fly to catch them. You can place them over the window from inside or outside and catch them.

How to Get Rid of Giant Scorpions?

Dehydrating their exoskeleton with boric acid or borax is an easy and quick way to get rid of them. You can pour borax over the places they are seen.

How to Get Rid of Scorpions under Carpet?

One can lay the borax or diatomaceous earth powder along the line of the carpet.

During their movement, scorpions will scramble over the line and they will get their body dehydrated in a few minutes.

How Vegans Get Rid of Scorpions?

Vegans will opt to use a natural essential oil like lavender oil to get rid of scorpions without killing them. Due to this type of repellents, the scorpions will not enter the house.

How to Get Rid of Scorpions in Refrigerator?

Usually, scorpions would not enter inside the refrigerator but they might be under or behind it waiting for their prey. To avoid this, you can place some diatomaceous earth or boric acid powder below and behind the refrigerator.

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