Just the name alone is enough to invite a shudder to run through your entire body – scorpions. The exact creature that is guaranteed to be in a creepy movie or thriller, either as an obstacle for the main characters to pass on the way to find an exit or as a tool to pressure someone into a confession of some sort. The worse part is if you’ve found a scorpion in your house there are probably more.
Scorpions are members of the Arachnid family and are most commonly found in desert conditions but can also live in Brazilian forests, British Columbia (Canada), North Carolina (USA) and the Himalayans. These creatures have been around for millions of years thanks to their skills of survival which allows them to adapt to various weather changes, conditions, and climate changes.
But what is it that attracts scorpions to your home and once they have taken up unfortunate residence; how can you get rid of them? Let’s find out!
What is a Scorpion?
Scorpions are members of the aforementioned Arachnid family and are closely related to the insect population. With almost 2,000 different species, it is a fortunate thing that only approximately 30 or 40 species of scorpions are poisonous to humans. While most scorpions still have venom running through their stinger at the end of their tail; the venom isn’t enough to fatally harm an adult. They typically dine on insects but have proven to be greater than average when it comes to adapting; as they can slow their metabolism in times of a food shortage. When a scorpion slows its metabolism, it can survive on one insect per year but still possess the speed and strength needed to take down prey.
Scorpions have shown during field studies an incredible set of survival skills, with a tool to counter any problem they encounter, from frozen conditions to a lack of oxygen and food. The only true weakness per say that they have, would have to be the need of soil for survival. As a burrowing creature, they must have loose soil to hide, sleep, mate, etc.
Scorpions are described as a hard-shelled arthropods with eight legs and a tail. Some of the species can even glow in the dark due to ultraviolet light entering and then reflecting off the shell. The tail is a curved shape that is broken up in individual segments and ends in a barb or stinger point.
A scorpion’s attraction to a home is generally caused by one or more of the following circumstances:
What causes scorpions in the house
An Abundance of Moisture in the Home
If moisture levels are high in your home due to natural circumstances, such as you live in an area that is prone to flash-flooding or flooding due to the seasonal changes, you might see scorpions throughout the residence looking for water. One of the top reasons a scorpion will enter a home is to primarily search for water and then food.
Insects in the Home
When a creature’s diet consists of one main thing; they will go to great lengths to seek it out. This phenomenon has been increasing due to global warming decreasing the population of some of the insects and animals inhabiting the earth. Destruction of ecosystems is also leading to food shortages for not only humans but also for the creatures that inhabit the earth with us.
If your home has frequent visitors in the form of insects; from roaches to ants to centipedes; then it shouldn’t come as a surprise that your next visitor is the predator that hunts these creatures.
Structures that Invite a Nest
Scorpions are burrowing creatures by nature, as previously mentioned, so their shelter is usually in a dark, damp place with access to the ground or loose soil. Thanks to their moisture loving ways, somewhere that has water buildup from any source, whether it is a spring or leak or even condensation, is fair game for shelter. If you have older structures on your property or store garbage in a wooden box; you can be opening the door for scorpions around your home.
Scorpions have also been known to hide away in bedclothes or shoes due to the lack of light and this is more common when they cannot find a damp place to hide. The top priority of the scorpion’s shelter is that it is dark. These creatures are more active in the night, thanks to their predatory instincts, so their shelter must be as dark as that.
What You can Do to Get Rid of Scorpions
To ensure your home is scorpion free, there are some basic tips and guidelines that don’t require a large amount of work but produces great results! You can follow the tips below or call your local pest control company to get rid of the scorpions for you. Along with any other pests.
Eliminate Excessive Moisture in the Home
Look for areas that tend to leak or flood during wet weather and use a silicone chalk to plug any cracks or splits in flooring or walls. Scorpions can crawl into your home from a number of places and a crack or split in the foundation is not a hindrance to their journey at all. Most scorpions can fit through a crack with an opening the size of a plastic card, so using a sealant is key.
Also ensure that window screens fit tightly to the frame without any wiggle room for scorpions to slip through and invest in door seals if you reside in an area known for scorpion invasions.
Rid Yourself of Insects
Scorpions follow their food source, so if you have insects inhabiting your home, scorpions will follow. Use a natural pesticide around doorways and baseboards to ward against insects but always research the pesticides effects on adults, children and pets.
Remove clutter from the floor of your home and even the exterior of your residence. Trim back your plant life to manageable widths and get rid of the clippings through recycling or burning. Overgrown plant life is a perfect hiding spot for not only insects but also scorpions due its damp and dark environment.
Sticky pads are also an effective tool for both insects and scorpions when placed in corners and dimly lit areas!
Pesticides
If choosing to use pesticides as the remedy against scorpions, always research the side effects on both humans and pets, as sickness can occur from usage. Take care not to vacuum the carpet once spraying pesticides, as it dries into little crystals and vacuuming will render it useless. Spray or sprinkle the pesticides along baseboards, doorways, electrical outlets and window seals.
It might be wise to use a professional pest control company if you are unsure of what areas need to be treated and what is the best pesticide to use in your situation.
Seal it Up!
Silicone chalking is the best defense against insects and scorpions, creating a solid seal in any crack from the outside to the interior of your home. Use chalking for cracks or splits in flooring or foundation and make sure to fully plug any openings to your home that aren’t supposed to be there.
Scorpions have been known to also crawl up through drainage pipes and enter your home through the sinks and showers. To prevent this, run the water for half a minute before showering or washing dishes etc. or invest in a mesh seal that fits over the drainage opening to prevent unwanted visitors.
Author Bio: Pat Jones is a pest control enthusiast who is obsessed with helping everyone live a pest free life. She’s also the founder of PestHacks, where anyone plagued with a pest problem can find the most up-to-date info on the best tips, tricks and methods to get rid of whatever creepy crawly is bothering you. Stat.