Scorpions

Summary: Scorpions are venomous arachnids known for packing a powerful sting, but scorpions are usually non-lethal to humans. Discover what scorpions eat, how to prevent scorpions from entering your home, and get ideas for new scorpion tattoos you might have in mind.

Applying a wettable powder pesticide such as Demon WP, will help keep them away from your house. But, pesticides alone will not prevent scorpion invasions. If you live in an area where scorpions are common, then you should remove places where they might like to hide from around the perimeter of your house. Trash, logs, boards, stones, and the like should be removed. Grass should be kept short. Tree branches and shrubs should be regularly trimmed away from the roof or sides of the house, to prevent scorpions from getting onto the roof of your house. Garbage containers should be elevated by storing them on a wooden frame. Firewood should not be brought into the house unless it is going directly onto a fire. Weather stripping can be installed along wide doorjambs and loose fitting windows at a relatively inexpensive price. Cracks and crevices that lead into the home should be sealed with a product like Xcluder. An application of Talstar Granules around the outside foundation will also provide some control.

Scorpions are arthropods and are close relates of spiders. They have two body sections comprised of two pincer claws they use to grasp prey, and a tail with a stinger they use to inject venom, in most instances a neurotoxin, that paralyzes its victim.

Scorpions can be found in many different kinds of climates all over the world. Most varieties that live in the United States live west of the Mississippi river. They are found most frequently in Arizona, Central Texas and Central Oklahoma.

Most scorpions are relatively harmless to humans. Their sting will create no more pain or lasting side effects than a bee sting. Other scorpions are more dangerous, and a few can be lethal to humans. Like bee stings, some people may have a serious allergic reaction to a scorpion sting.

A good rule to follow when determining if a scorpion is dangerous is to avoid scorpions with small pincers and a large tail. These scorpions rely on the poison in their stinger to subdue their victim, rather than crushing it with the frontal claws. The types of scorpions with larger pincers and a smaller stinger are usually less venomous. To be on the safe side, avoid getting stung by any kind of scorpion by knowing where they are likely to be found.

Scorpions are nocturnal and shy away from sunlight and open spaces as a safety precaution to steer clear of predators like birds and lizards. Scorpions will hide under rocks or in underground burrows during the daytime, and come out at night to feed on small insects, or in rare cases, small lizards or rodents.