Scorpions are fairly common pests. They are part of the arachnid family and are often found in warmer areas. During the day they love to be in the dark, but as night falls, their search for water and food begins. You can get rid of them by hunting them at night, removing their food sources and shelters, and using sprays. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Remove Food Sources and Seal the House
Step 1. Eliminate excess moisture
Scorpions enter our homes in search of water. Keep floors, corners, closets and any other space dry and free of any leaks. Don't let rainwater accumulate in puddles and containers around your home.
Step 2. Remove food sources
Eliminate cockroaches, bugs and cobwebs inside your home. Scorpions feed on them and, like many other insects, are attracted to the areas where these insects usually dwell. Here's how to reduce the insect population in your home:
- Eliminate the crumbs and wash the dishes immediately so as not to leave food available to insects.
- Sprinkle some borax and diatomaceous earth at the base of the foundation and under the sinks in your home; these natural substances kill insects.
- Consider spraying insecticides. Research and use this method with caution, as insecticides are poisonous to humans and pets.
- Try to limit the number of insects outside the house as well, as scorpions prefer to live outdoors.
Step 3. Remove the burrows
Scorpions like to hide in dark places, especially during the day. Get rid of structures around the house that can be used as burrows for scorpions. Take the following measurements:
- Put the cardboard boxes on the shelves instead of on the floor.
- Do not leave clutter around the house and under the beds.
- Keep closets and bedrooms organized and clean. Scorpions love to hide in shoes and piles of clothing on the floor.
- Outside, cut the bushes and foliage where the scorpions can hide. Eliminate piles of wood, piles of stones or construction waste. Cut vines and other vegetation that can be potential burrows.
Step 4. Seal the house
Scorpions can crawl into slits as thin as a credit card. Sealing the house is important to avoid an infestation. To secure your home, follow these tips for sealing doors, windows, and foundations:
- Use mortar to close cracks in walls, foundations, and walls at the level of the baseboard.
- Make sure the doors close tightly and the glass is sealed so scorpions can't get in.
- Close the drafts under the doors.
Part 2 of 3: Go Scorpion Hunting
Step 1. Prepare the necessary
The best way to get rid of scorpions as soon as possible is to hunt at night when they are most active. It is not a job for the faint of heart, but killing them is the fastest way to reduce their population at home. You need:
- An ultraviolet light. With this light they glow in the dark, so you will see them well. Use a flashlight or faceplate with an ultraviolet bulb.
- A tool to kill them. In some areas, long-handled pliers are used to break the exoskeletons of scorpions. You can also use a long knife or a pair of heavy boots to crush them.
Step 2. Look for them around your property
Look on exterior walls, at the base of walls and fences, under bushes, under rocks and in other nooks and crannies near your home. Aim ultraviolet light in these areas to make the scorpions glow.
- Scorpions don't usually live in grass, so it's unlikely to find them there.
- Also look in the attic, along the foundations, and anywhere else you have seen scorpions.
Step 3. Kill them when you find them
Use long-handled pliers, a knife or your boots. Throw them in a garbage bag, tie it up, and throw it in the regular trash.
Step 4. Use another hunting strategy
Look for them at night with a UV flashlight and ant and cockroach spray like the Raid. Spray the insecticide directly on each scorpion. This spray is the one with the fastest active ingredient.
If the scorpion is high up on a wall or roof, spray the Wasp Raid so you can reach it
Part 3 of 3: Using Traps, Insecticides and Repellents
Step 1. Spray scorpion-specific insecticide
Spread it in a 2m radius around the house. Spray the walls from the base up to a height of 30 cm. Place it around the internal frames of windows, doors and along the skirting board. Spray garages and closets. Apply insecticide to all stacked materials where scorpions can take refuge.
Step 2. Apply a wet or powdered synthetic insecticide
It will kill the scorpions before they can get into your house. Sprinkle electrical outlets, taps, and attics. Fill in every crack.
Step 3. Talk to a professional
If the problem persists, call an expert.
Step 4. Set up sticky traps
They are specially designed to catch insects or mice and also work for scorpions. Place them around water sources or in dark corners of the house. When you catch a scorpion, throw the trap and set up a new one.
Step 5. Have a pet cat or chicken
Cats like to hunt scorpions, so having one in the family helps you limit their population. Chickens like to eat scorpions so consider keeping an outdoor chicken coop.
Step 6. Sprinkle some cinnamon around the house
It is a natural repellent. Place it in dark areas, on windowsills and along the base of walls to keep scorpions away.
Advice
If you live in an area prone to scorpions, shake your shoes and sheets before using them. These are places where scorpions commonly seek refuge
Warnings
- When handling the insecticide, wear gloves and a protective mask.
- Scorpions, when they feel in danger, can bite. Normally a scorpion bite, the kind commonly found indoors, is as painful as a bee or wasp sting. In any case, consult a doctor, especially if a child is bitten.
