Scorpions are a common nuisance in the home. These animals are commonly found in the southern United States, with the largest varieties living in desert areas. During the day, scorpions tend to hide in dark places, and come out at night in search of food and water. You can kill scorpions by hunting them at night, removing their food sources and hiding places, raising predatory animals, and also spraying them with insect repellent. Keep reading this article to learn more about how to get rid of scorpions.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Getting Rid of Various Sources of Food and Sealing Houses Tightly
Step 1. Wipe off excess water
The scorpion enters the house in search of water. Keep floors, corners, wardrobes, and other areas that are potential for creeping, dry and free from leaks. Do not allow water to pool or sit in an open container outside your home.
Step 2. Get rid of small animals in your home
Scorpions eat insects, so if you still have cockroaches, ants, or other insects in your home, you'll need to deal with them first before getting rid of the scorpions. The following are some great ways to reduce the insect population in your home:
- Clean up food crumbs and wash dirty dishes as soon as possible, so insects don't have a food source.
- Spread borax or diatomaceous earth /DE (a white powder made from diatoms, which are fossils of aquatic plants that settle to the bottom of the earth) around the base of the wall and also under the sink or sink. These natural ingredients can kill various types of insects.
- Consider spraying insecticide to get rid of insects around your home. For this method, do your research and approach carefully, as some insecticides are toxic to both humans and pets.
- Reduce the scorpion population outdoors, as scorpions tend to prefer living outside.
Step 3. Get rid of the scorpion's hiding place
Scorpions like to hide in dark places, especially during the day. Get rid of any piles in your home that could potentially be a cozy hiding place for scorpions. Take the following actions to prevent scorpions from wandering around:
- Keep cardboard or cardboard boxes in a cupboard rather than laying them on the floor.
- Don't let your house fall apart, including the underside of the bed.
- Keep your wardrobe and bedroom tidy. Scorpions like to hide in shoes and piles of clothes on the floor.
- Things to do outdoors: trim bushes and leaves that could potentially harbor scorpions. Remove piles of wood and rocks, or prune plants in the yard. Prune vines or other potential hiding points.
Step 4. Seal your house
Scorpions can sneak in through thin holes the size of a credit card. Sealing the house is an important way of dealing with scorpion attacks. To make sure that your home is safe enough, take the following steps to seal doors, windows and house foundations:
- Use putty to cover holes and gaps/cracks in the walls or base of the walls, as well as the foundation of your house.
- Make sure all windows are tightly closed and the curtains are sealed, so the scorpion cannot climb through the passage.
- Seal the bottom of the door to prevent scorpions from entering the hole.
Part 2 of 3: Hunting Scorpions
Step 1. Prepare the right equipment
The best way to get rid of scorpions as quickly as possible is to hunt them at night, when they are most active. Not to discourage you, but killing scorpions one by one is indeed an effective and fast way to reduce the population of these animals around your home. To hunt scorpions, you will need the following equipment:
- Black light (ultraviolet/UV-A light). With this ultraviolet light that glows in the dark, you will be able to see your target clearly. So, use a flashlight or headlamp that uses an ultraviolet bulb.
- A tool that can be used to kill scorpions. In the state of Arizona, United States, long-handled pincers are the weapon of choice for breaking the exoskeleton of scorpions. In addition, you can use a long knife or use heavy-soled boots to step on it.
Step 2. Look for scorpions around your house and yard
Look for outside walls, at the base of walls and fences, under shrubs and other leaves, under rocks, and in various outdoor crevices near your home. Shine an ultraviolet light at these places. Shine an ultraviolet light over the entire area to make the scorpion glow.
- Most scorpions aren't in the grass, so you probably won't find much if you search there.
- You should also check the roof space (attic), along the base of the walls, and other areas where you've seen scorpions.
Step 3. Kill the scorpions you find
Use long-handled tongs, a knife, or your boot to kill the scorpion. Then take it and put the carcass in a garbage bag, tie it tightly and throw it away with other garbage.
Step 4. Use another hunting method
Hunt at night using a UV flashlight and insect repellent spray (ants, cockroaches, etc.). Spray directly any scorpion you find. Insect repellents generally have the quickest reaction.
To reach scorpions on high walls or ceilings, use wasp spray or fly repellent
Part 3 of 3: Using Traps, Insecticides and Insect Repellents
Step 1. Spray a special insecticide for scorpions
Spray around an area of 2 meters wide on the foundation wall and up to a height of 0.3 meters on the foundation wall. Apply insecticide around windows, doors, and wall bases in the house. Spray insecticide into the basement, garage, and also the storage room/wardrobe. Spray insecticide on any piles of material that could potentially harbor scorpions.
Step 2. Apply synthetic pesticide dust (synthetic pesticide in the form of low concentration dust/hendus flour, used by exhaling) and wettable powder (a flour formulation that can be suspended in water)
Both chemicals will kill the scorpion before it enters your home. Spread the two materials around electrical outlets and plumbing devices. and also in the roof space (attic). Fill any holes or gaps/cracks with pesticide in the form of dust.
Step 3. Call a professional
If you're still having problems with scorpions, it's a good idea to contact a professional pest control agent.
Step 4. Install the self-adhesive trap
Traps containing adhesive/glue designed to catch insects or mice, can also be used as scorpion traps. Place these traps around water sources and in dark corners in your home. If you succeed in trapping the scorpion, remove the trap and install a new one.
Step 5. Keep a cat or chicken at home
Some types of cats like to hunt scorpions, so keeping them will greatly help your efforts to reduce the scorpion population. Chickens are also known to prey on scorpions, so consider keeping them by starting a chicken coop outdoors.
Step 6. Spread the cinnamon around your house
Cinnamon powder is a natural scorpion repellent. Sprinkle over dark areas of the house, window sills and also along the base of walls to prevent scorpions from passing through.
Tips
- Don't forget to always shake the bed sheet, bed cover, etc., as well as shoes, if you live in an area that tends to be a scorpion location. These places are hiding locations for scorpions in the house.
- If you see a scorpion outside your house, chances are there is another one nearby. Scorpions tend to be not too far from each other.
Warning
- Scorpions may sting if they feel attacked. Most scorpion stings found indoors, are about as strong as a bee or wasp sting. However, most scorpion stings will not cause serious injury. If you have been stung by a scorpion, go to the doctor immediately. However, if the stung is a small child, it is better to call a doctor to come to the scene.
- Wear a mask and gloves when you are spraying or spreading insecticides.
