How to kill scorpions in your home

Controlling scorpions can be tough for do-it-yourselfers and pest control professionals alike.

Scorpions are related to spiders, and whether a hunting spider like the brown recluse or a webbing spider like the black widow, they all capture their prey live.

To get rid of scorpions, you need to treat them directly and also their prey. This stresses the population from two different directions.

The best advice on how to kill scorpions in your home include focusing on but not limited to these areas:

• Treating the attic area, to eliminate scorpions and pray
• Treating the external entry points (windows, doors, eaves, foundation, weep holes, etc) to prevent scorpions from entering the home at all!

The most common scorpion in Texas is the striped bark scorpion. They are generally brown with darker stripes down the back and seldom more than 2 ½ inches long.

When they bear their young, they generally have anywhere from 25 up to 50 in a brood. The females carry their young on their back until they are ready to go out on their own. A pregnant female can introduce a large number of scorpions into the home.

None of the scorpions in Texas are considered deadly; however, if you are stung by one you will experience sharp and immediate pain. This will lead to localized swelling that may last from a few hours to, in some cases, persisting for days. Although not life-threatening, it is quite painful and unforgettable.

Scorpions are great climbers and can easily climb trees or the sides of homes. They are nocturnal by nature, so most of their activity is at night. They can make their bodies very flat so once in the attic area or wall voids, they work their way into our living space through light fixtures, switch plates, plumbing wall penetrations, and A/C ductwork openings into rooms. (they do not come down the duct itself but around the duct where it comes through the wall).

If scorpions are getting into your home, it's best to call a professional. We offer free scorpion inspections.