Of all of the common household pests here in Texas, one may be the creepy-crawliest of them all: the scorpion. While some scorpions may be limited to crawling on the floor, others are able to climb walls, drapes and hide in the folds of clothing. You might find a scorpion in a variety of places, such as inside of a shoe or under a piles of clothing. In addition to being painful, a scorpion’s sting is venomous and can cause serious illness. In a few cases, the sting may even cause death. To know how to eradicate these poisonous pests, homeowners must understand what attracts scorpions to homes.
What Attracts Scorpions to My Home?
The more you know about these arachnids, the more equipped you are to know where and when to spot them, how to know they have made it inside of your home, and most importantly, how to get them out—for good.
Scorpions have lived on Earth for over 400 million years. Found on every continent—except Antarctica—these eight-legged creatures are related to ticks, mites and spiders. There are 1,500 scorpion species found worldwide, 90 of which live in the United States and 18 that make their home in Texas. Over a dozen species of scorpions are found in Big Bend National Park alone.
During most of the day, scorpions remain hidden in the wild in burrows or crevices to avoid exposure to sunlight and heat. At night, they feed on a variety of insects, centipedes, arachnids, other scorpions and larger species even feast on lizards, snakes and mice. All species of scorpions use venom to defend themselves against predators and to immobilize and kill their prey. The arachnid’s tail includes a barb which works like a hypodermic needle to inject venom into its prey. The impact of the venom varies from mild pain to a lethal cocktail, although when humans get stung, in most cases pain and swelling goes away after an hour or two. The most dangerous scorpion, the Arizona bark scorpion, does not live in Texas. The species of scorpion Texas homeowners is most likely to encounter is the striped bark scorpion.
In the wild, the striped bark scorpion lives under rocks, in dead vegetation and inside of logs. This species of scorpion does not burrow, and can often be seen climbing, so they can make their way into your home through your attic. Scorpions often find their way inside our homes as they search for moisture, shelter and food. When temperatures climb, striped bark scorpions may descend to escape the heat.
How to Get Rid of Scorpions
Once you find a scorpion inside of your home, you will likely want to do all you can to make sure no others make their way indoors. There are few steps that homeowners can take to keep these creatures in their natural habitat.
Remove Accumulated Debris and Branches
Scorpions hide under leaves or any other items piled in the yard. Eliminating scorpions is a task that requires consideration of the entire property. To keep scorpions out of the house, they must first be kept out of the yard. Remove any debris, and make sure garbage is always taken to the curb promptly. People who have fireplaces should avoid stacking wood next to their houses. Wood should be brought in only as needed. If there are overgrown tree branches or shrubs, they should be trimmed. Branches should not touch the side of the home or hang over the roof.
Shut Scorpions Out
If there are any spaces between windows or doors and their frames, it is important to seal them. Use weather stripping and caulking to do this. Keep in mind that scorpions can squeeze through very small spaces, so even the smallest cracks should be sealed.
Eliminate Their Food Source
Scorpions are attracted to homes where there is food for them to eat. Since their diet consists mostly of insects, scorpions will leave if they cannot find any prey. Termites can sometimes draw scorpions, as they like to feed on this wood-eating pest.
ABC Can Take the Sting Out of Your Pest Problem
While people may be able to accomplish most preventative tasks on their own, it may be necessary to call in the professionals to eliminate the bugs that scorpions eat to make sure that your home remains scorpion-free. ABC Home & Commercial Services has been helping Texans homeowners get rid of scorpions and other pests for decades, so you can count on our reliable, highly-knowledgable technicians to quickly take care of your problem so you can breathe a sign of relief, knowing the pests are gone for good.
