Scorpions are terrifying. There is no denying that one look at that long, pointed stinger and those clicking claws gives everyone in the world a jolt of worry and fear. Though they don’t indicate filth and disease like other household pests such as ants and roaches, scorpions are perhaps the least-liked critters in any home — and for good reason. Scorpion stings can hospitalize even the healthiest people, which means the sight of a scorpion should make you wary about there possibly being more. If you see a scorpion creeping around your house, here’s what you can do get rid of it fast — and sleep soundly after.
Step 1: Stay Away
While it may seem like a good idea to kill the bug to get it over with, approaching the scorpion could be risky, if you’re not careful. In just Arizona, there are dozens of different varieties of scorpions, and unless you can confidently identify the critter, you will be putting yourself (or your loved ones) in harm’s way by attempting to exterminate the invaders without help. Instead of handling the scorpions yourself, you should attempt to bar them from areas of the home where you and your family are vulnerable (e.g. the bathrooms and bedrooms) and hire a qualified exterminator to do the dangerous work.
Step 2: Treat Any Wounds
Most people don’t know they have a scorpion infestation until they feel a sting. Because scorpions love hiding, they often turn up when you least expect it: in your clothes, in your shoes, etc. If you or a loved one has been wounded by a scorpion — or by any other creepy-crawly — you should seek immediate medical attention. Though most domestic scorpions aren’t the deadliest in the world, some stings can cause intense pain in even the healthiest individuals. Plus, children and the elderly are at risk for serious complications from even the tamest of scorpion wounds.
While you wait for a doctor’s aid, there are a few steps you can take to decrease the pain and discomfort of a scorpion sting. You should quickly wash the site with soap and water to prevent infection, and a cool compress applied every 10 minutes or so should decrease swelling. While these actions won’t prevent a dangerous bite from causing harm, they could stop a mild sting from increasing in severity.
Step 3: Call an Exterminator
You should call a trustworthy exterminator to tackle your scorpion problem as soon as possible. Because scorpions are incredibly threatening, most exterminators will want to investigate your infestation as soon as possible. Scorpions are resilient critters — for example, during bomb testing in the Southwest, researchers found that scorpions survive nuclear blasts without issue, just like cockroaches — and regular pesticides usually don’t have any effect; thus, you must make sure your exterminator has experience with this particular type of bug.
Step 4: Learn About Scorpions
The professional exterminators you hire will be knowledgeable about regional pests, and they will be able to identify for you the type of scorpion you are dealing with. With a name in hand, you should take to researching your critter in order to appropriately deal with future attacks.
You may also want to read a little about other scorpion verities that may pop up around your home. Most urban areas are relatively free of most scorpion species, since the bugs don’t particularly enjoy light or warmth. Thus, there should only be about five or six types of scorpion you need to know about.
Step 5: Use Precautions for the Future
Now that you know your home is a target for scorpions, you should take additional steps to prevent the creatures from invading in the future. Once scorpions move into an area, it is nearly impossible to eradicate them completely; however, you can effectively prevent them from entering your home.
Sealing and weatherization is one way many homeowners have addressed rampant scorpion problems. By filling all the tiny cracks inside and outside your house, you may prevent the critters from finding a way in — plus, you can gain benefits on your energy bills with enhanced protection against air leaks. Sealing may be effective for a time, but you may need to schedule yearly exterminator visits to make outdoor spaces safe as well.
If you know the scorpions you have seen are not particularly harmful, you can take a DIY-approach to scorpion eradication. Using a black light at night, you can more easily spot the creatures scuttling around. With a direct shot of pesticide (or the underside of your boot) you should be able to prevent them from breeding and worsening your infestation.
