EEK Need Help with Scorpions.

Call the bug guy and tell him you still have them. Save the bodies. There should be a warranty on the service. If not, I have a bug guy that stands by hiw work. We found one this morning but it was dead. The stuff takes a while to enter into the bloodstream.

Hello-
My best friend had a terrible scorpion problem... she finally got cats for indoors and 2 "pet" chickens for outdoors, and they have done wonders for her.
Before that, she would put glass jars under each leg of her children's cribs to prevent them from climbing up into bed with them, and pull the cribs away from the walls.
They also would use a black light every night for the "hunt" before they went to sleep.
I hope you can get this solved very soon. It was very stressful for my friend, and she was very glad to get them under control.
Best wishes.

Hi N.,
Wow. Lots of good advice.
We have scorpions too in our new home (3 years now). I HATE it. I recommend a HIGH power blacklight. Not the cheap small ones. The scorpions will glow like the moon! We bought ours online at www.blacklightworld.com. It was expensive but well worth it. It was high quality 32 LED forensic type. You can see those suckers from 10 feet away or MORE. Plus you can see every urine stain (pet or human)that might be in your carpet too! You can shop around for the best price on these.
I also do NOT have any of our beds in our home under an air vent. Any bug can fall from the ceiling from there, not just scorpions. We also have all our beds in smooth Stainless steel canisters instead of glass jars. They can't climb smooth slippery surfaces. I think having the walls painted in a satin sheen or semi-gloss helps keep them off the walls.
We use Diatomatious earth around the outside. Plus, we have the outside sprayed EVERY month and yearround, but not inside.
I did use sticky traps for a while outside in our garage, and we would catch scorpions, but we started catching lizards in them too and that broke my heart. You WANT lizards!! So, we just use the sticky traps (boxes) just inside our entry doors.
It has been said by many pest control companies, that once you have them, you will never get rid of them. I hope that is not true, but being proactive and on the defensive seems to help.
We scorpion hunt at night and my kids totally get into it. We find them and whack them with a stiff fly swatter.
Making memories.....LOL.
Good Luck!

Hi N., I own an operate Beadle Bug Patrol, located in Chandler. We take pride in helping families keep their family safe from harmful Arizona pests. I would love the opportunity to help you with your scorpion problem. I have 2 very helpful articles on my website that I invite you to download, they can be found at www.beadlebugpatrol.com. The first article is on page 1 "How to pest proof your home" the second is on page two and it is titled "Scorpion Facts". Please feel free to give me a call, I'd be happy to educate you more on Arizona pests and what Beadle Bug Patrol can do to help control your problem.

Welcome to Arizona!
Yes,wear at least flip flops around home,check shoes,beds.
I am guesing you may live around mountain area -
I live right next to a mountain preserve -
I have a monthly Pest service come to my home and still get scorpions... I have recently adopted a cat -
They work well for scorpion issues -
Hope this helps...........

Contact your local nursery and see if they have any wormwood, lemon grass or lemon balm plants. All three of these have volitile oils in them which repel household pests and garden invaders. Pot them and put them by the entrances to your house - this will keep the pests from coming in doors. You can also plant them around your yard and keep pests out of your yard too.

M. M. Ernsberger
Certified Herbalist
Square-foot Gardening Specialist
www.wellnessgardening.com
###-###-####

first, there is only one type of scorpions that really cause problems...it's called a bark scorpion they're pretty small and i believe found around creeks/water.
i have been stung by one a few years ago, my husband and i did a bunch of research on scorpions-also afraid for our kids.
unless you are sick, have a weak immune system or are elderly, you (and your kids) probably won't have a huge reaction to being stung.
that information is just to ease your nerves about the potency of scorpions.
i don't like petro-chemicals and choose to use diatomaceous earth around the house that's safe for kids and pets to be around.
we found that scorpions are looking for food (spiders and other small insects) so we were looking to deter having them around.
i personally like spiders and will move them outside, although i take care in vacuuming corners, etc. to deter them from being in the house. (i do move the scorpions outside as well)..
good luck

Hi! and welcome to the desert!! We have scorpions where I live also, and about the only thing that really works is really good consistant pest control, and to seal ALL access cracks into your home... Check around doors...is the weather stripping intact? Go outside and check around pipes, any outlets that may lead into the house... exhaust ports for dryers, vents on the roof, etc. I even was told to check the fireplace chimney and mesh it all up!! you can get fine mesh at the hardware store. There are various caulks that you can use to secure it also. Sometimes caulking alone will help. We get the Arizona Hairy and the Bark scorpion (which is the most dangerous I hear), among others that I am sure are in the area!! I don;t like the way they run towards me with their tail up!! YUCK!! I hope this helps you, and yes, until you get the problem under control...check shoes, shake linens, etc. By the Way, a good thing to have on hand is a Black Light. You can buy them at Spencers or on Ebay...Scorpions Floresce (sp?) they turn purple in the dark if you use a black light on them...scarey cuz you can see them in the cracks then. But, it could be a learning experience too...go hunting with your black light at night around the house!! Oh boy...my mind is gone! LOL

Scorpions are visible with black lights. I learned this at the zoo. I would call the zoo and get as much information about them as possible and what to do in case of bite. I would take your son there and show him what one looks like alive and teach him as much about it too. Hope this is encouraging.

Hi N.,

We saw scorpions last summer and my daughter was crawling. I was so freaked out by it I did some research. You can have pest control spray specifically for them. Our guy sprayed from the window sills down on the exterior and put a powder at the doors. I have also read that lavender plants may deter them, so I have one at the front door and one at the back door. I put the feet of my daughters crib in glass jars (they can't climb glass) and put up a mosquito net. I cut the bottom of the net so it wasn't dragging on the floor. It is a good idea to keep wood piles and other clutter away from the outside of your home. I usually check her toys in the mornings during the summer months. We keep them in plastic bins, but you never know. The small ones are the most dangerous and the hardest to see. They have a clear, tan coloring. I often wear shoes at all times indoors and out. We typically don't see them, but last year was pretty wet for the desert in the summer, and this year it is already warm, so I think they may be around again this summer.
Hope this helps. Good Luck!

-R.

First thing you need to do is call the people who sprayed your house in the first place. Sometimes a place needs a couple of treatments to get rid of these pests especially if maybe the house you moved into has been empty and your place has not been sprayed for sometime. Until it has been sprayed a lot I sure would shake out the blankets and check the shoes. Any thing that has been on the floor should be checked daily.

We have a problem with this too. We live right next to a mountain. Ugh, I hate it.

As far as the bed goes, scorps can climb walls, wood, etc. so move the bed a few inches away from the wall -- but they cannot climb glass, so put the legs of the bed in wide-mouth jars, and don't ever let the bedding hang down onto the floor.

We ordered a UV flashlight to do inspections at night and it works awesome -- you can't miss them.

You can also get your home "sealed" to help prevent them from getting in. There are lots of businesses that specialize in this.

We don't want to spray pesticides near our baby. But we have come close a couple times, because it's so scary!

Good luck!

I don't know if you live in the city or country. However, we live in the country and have lots of scorpions. We use chickens , and other birds to keep the scorpions at bay. We have only seen 1 in our house since getting the chickens. They keep other bugs away as well, such as centipedes. They are nasty little critters too.

Good Luck. Make sure you teach your son not to grab snakes as well as the scorpions. My 2 1/2 year olds comes running for me when she sees a lizard yelling snake, better safe than sorry.

Hi N.,

I also had scorpions but have not seen any since I switched pest control companies. I recommend Arizona Dragon Slayer. They are in Surprise, and are family owed so they take care of their customers.

You can reach Ron or Jeri @ ###-###-####

You can search your house using a black light. We did that for a while just to make sure there were not any around. Also, cats are immune and my cats killed several in my house before we got the new pest control company.

Construction brings out scorpions. Any digging, rock moving will bring them out of hiding. Spraying is good do it in and out of the house. Make sure if you have pets or children you stay away until it dries. Most sprays are okay after they are dry.

If you get stung there are things you can do at home for it. Take benadryl; do not put ice on it. You can take a slice of potato or onion and place it on the sting sight for however long you can stand it. This will help draw out the poison. It also works better if you can put meat tenderizer on it.

Watch for signs of difficulty breathing or erratic heartbeats. It will hurt where it is stung it might even feel tingly for a few days or my even go numb. I have been stung 2 times and used to wake up with them in my bed on the ceiling they blend in with carpet well. Just make your child aware of the dangers. Do not freak out when stung your heart racing will make the poison spread faster. Stay calm and deal with it. They are there you just need to be extra careful. Dont move anything outside with out checking it first.

I've lived in AZ my whole life, so I've delt with Scorpions quite a bit. Spraying often is crucial, but there are a few more things to consider. If you have a pool, becareful of anything laying around it...I've known many people to be stung just picking up a pool toy. Cats are great at killing scorpions, so consider getting a cat. Make sure all your doors are sealed properly because they can get in easily through small cracks. I would be cautious and shake out shoes before putting feet in, don't leave extra blankets draping on the floor that scorpions could climb up, consider leaving an inch or two between the bed and the wall, dont place baby bed directly under AC vent... I don't mean to scare you, I'm just trying to think of all the things that we have done to reduce scorpion issues. We still see them around our house occassionally, but we're careful and we don't get stung.

Scorpians feed on roaches and crickets, so getting rid of them will encourage the scorpians to move on. Scorpians are typically solitary, so there probably isn't a nest. All bugs are more prevelent in the warmer months, which is why we all are starting to see them now. Our bug guy from Arizona Organic Pest Control said to staple mesh screen over our bathroom ceiling fan openings. You can get the screen from Home Depot or Lowes, take the plastic plate off, use a regular stapler, and put the screen on, then replace the plate. This helps if they are entering from the attic. Check your outside door jams to see if you have good seals by shining a flashlight along the bottom of the doors. You can use a screwdriver to lower the door plates. Don't keep doors open at night. I think we get some scorpians in when we prop open a door or even open our slider to get air thru our screen.

I live in mesa and thankfully I haven't seen any and I pray that I don't. A while back I read someone's post on Mamasource and they recommended http://www.cedarcidestore.com for scorpion control. I checked out the website "No chemicals in this product. Just food grade aromatic Red Cedar Oil and melted Quartz Rock" direct quote from this page http://www.cedarcidestore.citymax.com/catalog/item/358088... and I liked what I read from the testimonials and I kept the website address so that one day if I need it, I will go there to go. I hope this helps!
~D. T

Hey Nathalie! Call the landlord and check with him, look over your lease or call your real estate agent to see who is responsible for pest control. Check out this article http://www.bugspray.com/article/scorpions.html It tells you all about them and precautions to take as well as how to get rid of them. See you soon!

I know you've gotten a lot of responses so I'll only give you new info that no one has really said yet. One person mentioned diatomaceous earth. It's a white powder that we put down on the ground around our entire house. It's not the prettiest thing, but it works...on every insect too. Our bug guy also told us to put wire mesh across every air vent and duct because they will fall through the openings and on to whatever is beneath. These steps, along with nightly black-light checks, and pest control, really helped our problem. (Although I don't think anything can comletely solve the problem)

Holy cow! I feel for you. I hate them too. I cannot wait to ask HF why in the world we had to have them here in the first place. I haven't been here very long either (Anthem) and have had a few. Anyway, the only advice I have to add to what you've been told already is ( sorry if this sounds hokey or if you're offended by the religious thing ) pray. I believe that we won't be given more than we can handle. If you do all you can to get rid of them and be careful, then I know that you'll be blessed and even if they come back or worse, sting, you'll be okay. i know this is no fun to say the least. GL! :)

Hi!
I'm benefiting from your question because we have a TERRIBLE scorpion problem. We've had 3-4 a month at least for the past two years. However, none of us have been stung so far. We're extra careful, keeping the bedding from touching the floor, wearing shoes in the house at night, shaking out laundry baskets, hunting them down with black lights, etc. I feel the pest control works but just not super well. I think that's just how scorpions are. They're pretty tough. We get sprayed about once a month and seem to find just a few dead or dying ones for awhile and then they start coming in as healthy as ever.

You can get those glue traps and stick them outside your doors or wherever a scorpion could get in. Also, if you are really scared, get a black light. The scorpions glow in the black light and you can see them really well. If you are still scared, call the pest control people again. good luck

I moved here from Utah about 2 years ago this summer. The second night I was here I got stung by a scorpion, my son (at the time) was 2 1/2 and I was so worried for him so here are the things I did:
-We got a Cat, they are the natural enemy to scorpions and their smell supposedly keeps scorpions away (although she is an outside cat I still feel she helps)
-We put the feet of his bed in glass jars, bugs can't climb up those.
-We put the sticky pads that catch bugs under his bed along the wall.
-AND last but not least we talked to our bug guy and he not only sprayed around the house but he also used a white powder (that is safe) inside the house, it is called Diatmatious (spell?) Earth. He put it around all the windows and doors! After a while we stopped using it and just had him spray, we started seeing scorpions again, soooo we are back to using it.

Good Luck!

N.,

We have two indoor cats and pest control, and sometimes still get them in our house. It mostly happens when we get a lot of rain and the critters are looking for refuge, but regardless, scorpions are a fact of life in the desert.

We use Truly Nolen. They do the spray around the house, in the house at my request, the glue traps..but, most importantly, they spray ALL the gravel on the property. The sprays aren't enough to harm my pets (we have a dog too). One of my cats licked it up directly out of a window track some years ago. I freaked out, but the bug guy (as we call him) assured me it was not enough to harm the cat. Cat is going on 10 years this year.. but, back to the point--spraying all the gravel if you're willing to have it done helps with the scorps a great deal. Our bug guy states that yes, the sprays DO work, but not right away because of the exoskeletons--it takes two to three days, thus the glue traps and such.

Keeps piles of leaves at bay on your property too. Good breeding ground.

Also, bug guy has stated that scorps tend to be individuals. They are only "together" if it's a recent mom/babies thing.

~D.

okay...my scorpion nightmare began last august. after living in gilbert for 4 years, i started finding them in my house!!! we eventually had to get our house "sealed" for over a thousand dollars! the prob is, they can live up to a year without food or water! we adopted a full grown lab last october, and SHE STARTED EATING THEM WHEN SHE FOUND THEM!!! here's my advice: keep the crickets sprayed for (their food) and buy a black light flashlight. they cost about $40, but worth it! use the flashlight to "hunt" them at night! go throughout your house, and your yard, killing any you find! keep blankets, clothes, etc off your floors!!! check your walls and ceilings (they can climb and then fall into your beds) keep doors sealed closed, set glue traps in garage, be proactive!!! there are a lot of myths out there, but the truth is, they lived here first, so we have to deal with it. (i know, i was DISGUISTED to hear that)... if you have a cat, they catch them. if you are zoned for it, get a few chickens in your yard. if your child gets stung, take him to the er immediately for anti-venon! we haven't been stung, and i accidentally had one in my hand! (shaking out blanket on our bed!!!!!!!) i didn't sleep for three nights, but was lucky!

you can email me if you want: ____@____.com

We had scorpions in our house the first few months after we moved in and talked to the pest control guy our land lord has, They said that if there are any palm trees that are not shaved or trimmed then the scorpions LOVE to hid in them and nest. We shaved and trimmed ours and havent seen one since also you can get a chemical to get rid of them. Its really small capsules that when the bugs walk over them it gets under thier skeleton and into their bodies and kills them. Ask Home depot or someone at Lowes to help you find it. It is used on pools. Our landlord has it and its a spray, after it dries then its safe for kids and pets. Good Luck

I was born here - scorpions have to have a way to get inside - don't leave your doors open and make sure your screens are secure. Do whatever checking of your child's bed and toys that you feel comfortable with - playing together is a good way of being sure what's around. Also, in case anyone IS stung, there is an all-natural and safe but very effective treatment I have come across. It's called Sangre de Drago. It is a sap from a tree in the rainforest and I have used it successfully in saving two of my dogs from rattlesnake bites (another common creature of the desert) without having to go for anti-venom, and I gave it to a woman who used it when she was bitten by a bark scorpion (the more dangerous kind - it's smaller and not so hairy as the giant) and she healed much more quickly than expected by her doctor. If you want more info you can check out my website: shootingstarherbs.amazonherb.net or call me at ###-###-####.

You're probably not going to like my response. I live in the Foothills, against a hillside, and we have had scorpions since the day we moved in our new home 13 years ago. I was terrified and ready to sell our new, beautiful home the first night when I saw one...WALKING AWAY FROM THE "BED" WE'D MADE ON OUR FLOOR! To me, it was 6 inches long....we now know better. We got a spray service out right away, who polluted our new carpet and home with toxic spray.

Well, guess what? Do some research on the web. Scorpions are not insects. They are arachnids, with an exoskeleton. Sprays don't work on them AT ALL. Sprays, however, do work on the bugs that are their food. Theoretically, if you get rid of the bugs, you get rid of the scorpions. Didn't work for us. They also say if you have crickets, you don't have scorpions because scorpions eat crickets. Doesn't make sense, does it? Welllll..no. The scorpions love to come out and eat the crickets. When I had my persian cats, I'd come out in the morning occasionally to find a dead scorpion by the fireplace. They were great at tracking them and letting me know about them. To make matters worse, the color of the scorps blend in perfectly with my carpet! Yes, I was petrified with crawling babies. But scorps prefer to come out at night, when it's quiet. They are very sensitive to vibrations. Thank God they don't jump. By the way, they don't affect cats really, but are just as toxic to dogs as they are to us. And how toxic to us? Babies and elderly, along w/those w/a compromised immune system are at risk, but for most, unless there's an allergy, it's like a bad bee sting. Not fun, but not fatal.

After all this time in our home, where we'd either smush them (after learning to be brave - don't smush if you don't have to. They have lots of liquid and leave a stain. We get a lot in our garage!), or, if on the wall, the typical place we see them, we use a clear glass or jar, cover them up, then slide a postcard (like the kind in magazines) underneath the glass to seal him in. They can't climb glass. Then we drown them. But after all this time, we never have been stung, until about 3 weeks ago. DH opened the dishwasher, putting his hand on the top, rather than the handle. I think the scorp felt us coming and climbed off the counter to the safety of the dishwasher. It was right there and got him. He said it hurt like crazy. It swelled a little, then got numb up his arm. It was numb for a few days. I called Poison Control right away, and they walked us through it. The web had said to use ice - Poison Control said that makes it worse, so don't trust the internet. But do keep Poison Control's number by your phone anyway. He took ibuprofen for the pain, but outside of the numbness, that went all the way up his arm, he was OK, pretty much. Heart palpitations, etc. are the things to look for in case there's a rare allergy. They are not fun, but the black widows we have are more dangerous. Also, the rattlers. Just don't reach your hand into something you can't see into, and don't step over a log or rock where you can't see the other side. Oh, and if a scorp climbs on you...don't swat it! I had a baby one on my foot once - heebie jeebies! I brushed it off and then killed it w/a wadded up tissue.

So, yes, empty your shoes, pull back your covers, and don't let them hang to the floor. We taught both kids what they are with the warning to never, ever touch. My two year old has found two of them on the wall in my bedroom and told us right away. I did have a friend who got stung in bed, so it can happen. But for the most part, they are out hunting for food. I found some heading toward my cat's food in the past, too, which surprised me. And wear shoes on your patio and in the yard at night, including around your pool.

There is one more thing you can do. Some companies "seal" your house - like put caulk around the crevices. It's bad in a way because we need fresh air in our polluted homes, but I've talked to those who live near me who swear by it. I know for a fact some have crawled through the area around my front door. I think others have come in through the chimney - just a theory. I think Arizona Exterminating does the sealing, and they've been around for awhile. Your bug guy is a quack - I'd drop that company. I've actually had an entomologist out to my house when I had a termite problem, and we've discussed the scorpions.

And yes, any spraying or eradication should be your landlord's responsibility, but I don't know if that is addressed by law. Your son is old enough to teach what a scorpion is and how dangerous it is. They have those glass paperweights that have real scorpions sealed inside it - that's what we used, and it's part of my son's collection of bug things now.

Hi N.,

I recommend getting your house "sealed". It's a bit of an expense; but well worth it. We live in a highly populated scorpion area and never get them due to our house being sealed.

If you can't seal your house, you could try "Diatomaceous Earth"; but even that doesn't get rid of them 100% of the time. You might also try the "sonic" things you put in your outlets. They send of a tone that only bugs can hear (not sure if it works on scorpions).

If you feel you must use pesticide (which I highly recommend against), be sure to go w/ a natural version. Try "Lady Bug" pest control or one of the other services on my web site: http://healthyhabits.ws/services.htm#arizona

Best of luck to you!

Warm Regards,
G. Van Luven
Healthy Habits Wellness Center, LLC

We used to live in an area with a lot of scorpions and our pest guy said the best remedy for getting rid of them is a cat! Also, a black light makes them glow so we would check every night under our bed and definately shake out shoes and blankets. Good luck!

Hi,
I'ved lived in the Phoenixx are for 7 years now, I have 2 kids and 5 adopted animals. If your "bug guy" didn't use Triazide, you will keep getting scorpions also you must have crickets, their main food source. Get rid of the crickets and get rid of the scorpions. I suggest you go to Walmart or Lowes etc. get the Raid foggers (for inside your home) and follow the directions on the box. You should only have to do this once, if you spray the outside of yur home with the Triazide. Scorpions come in from out doors. Don't depend on your land lord to follow through, he doesn't live there, so why does he care?)These critters like to hide and you need to be able to get them at the source. I never trust so called professionals, I think they only get rid of the ones you see, so they have to keep coming back. If you have palm trees,spray them with the triazide, the scorpions main hiding place. This spray is very toxic, so follow the directions well. I've been using it for many years now and love the results. It works great and I don't have any bugs at all; do it once a month save your money for something better, it costs about $10.00 a month to do it yourself verses what the pros. charge. This should solve your problem!

Not sure if this helps or not, but when I first moved here I had the same problem. Someone told me to get a cat. That was very hard for me since I am really a dog person. However, like you I found several in our home and I gave in and got a cat. I have not seen one since then. Someone told me it is because of the odor that cats leave behind (that we can't smell, but the scorpians can) it scares them off.

I am an Arizona native and I know there are a lot of things people will recommend. One thing you may have not heard is: If you are worried about scorpions getting into your bed make sure there are not any cloth pieces hanging on the ground ( bed ruffles etc) and put the feet of the crib or bed into glass jars. Scorpions can't climb glass and it will set you at ease about them climbing into the bed until you get the problem solved. Hope this was helpful... P.S. Do shake out your shoes and slippers before putting them on until you get it resolved too!!