How To Get Rid Of Scorpions: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Get Rid of Scorpions PDF download Download Article Explore this Article parts 1 Using Traps, Insecticides and Repellants 2 Removing Food Sources and Sealing Your House 3 Hunting Scorpions Other Sections Expert Q&A Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Elmer Bensinger

Last Updated: November 28, 2024 Fact Checked

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This article was co-authored by Elmer Bensinger. Elmer Bensinger is a Pest Control Specialist with Eden Advanced Pest Technologies in Spokane, Washington. With over 20 years of experience, Elmer specializes in integrated pest management and products such as insecticides and rodenticides. He studied business at South Puget Sound Community College. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 796,177 times.

Scorpions are common household pests. These arachnids are typically found in the southern United States, with the largest varieties dwelling in desert regions. Scorpions prefer to stay in dark spaces during the day and come out at night to find food and water. You can get rid of them by hunting them at night, removing their sources of food and shelter, introducing predators, and using sprays. Read on to learn more about how to get rid of scorpions.

Things You Should Know

  • Scorpion-specific insecticides, synthetic pesticides, and sticky traps can help you catch and kill scorpions.
  • To prevent scorpions in the future, seal up cracks and holes, reduce excess moisture, get rid of other bugs that scorpions will want to hunt.
  • When you spy a scorpion around your home, kill them with a knife, ant spray, tweezers, or just the bottom of your shoe.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Using Traps, Insecticides and Repellants

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  1. Step 1 Spray insecticide designed for scorpions. 1 Spray insecticide designed for scorpions. Spray an area 6 feet (2 yards) wide around the exterior of the house. Spray up to a height of 1 foot (.3 yards) on the foundation wall. Apply insecticide around the windows, doors, and baseboards inside the house. Spray basements, garages, and closets with insecticide. Apply insecticide to any stacked materials where scorpions may hide. Before spraying inside the house, make sure it is approved for indoor use. Also, consider children and pets safety guidelines.[1]
  2. Step 2 Apply synthetic pesticide dust and wettable powder. 2 Apply synthetic pesticide dust and wettable powder. These substances will kill scorpions before they are able to enter your home. Spread pesticide dust and wettable powder around electrical outlets and plumbing fixtures, and in attics. Fill in cracks with pesticide dust.[2] Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Set out sticky traps. 3 Set out sticky traps. Sticky traps designed to catch insects or mice work well for trapping scorpions, too. Set them out around sources of water and in dark corners of your house. When you catch a scorpion, throw the trap away and set out another one.[3]
  4. Step 4 Sprinkle cinnamon oil around the house. 4 Sprinkle cinnamon oil around the house. Cinnamon oil is a natural scorpion repellant. Sprinkle it in dark areas, windowsills, and around your baseboards to keep scorpions away.
  5. Step 5 Call a professional. 5 Call a professional. If you continue to have problems with scorpions, call a professional pest control agency.[4]
  6. Step 6 Introduce a cat or chicken to the household. 6 Introduce a cat or chicken to the household. Some cats like to hunt scorpions, so having one around can really help to keep the population down. Chickens, too, enjoy eating scorpions, so consider getting an outdoor chicken coop. Both of these animals can be stung and wounded by a scorpion, which can lead to large vet bills for treatment. [5]
    7. Advertisement
Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Removing Food Sources and Sealing Your House

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  1. Step 1 Eliminate excess moisture. 1 Eliminate excess moisture. Scorpions enter homes looking for water. Keep floors, corners, closets, and crawl spaces dry and free of leaks. Refrain from allowing water to stand in puddles or containers near the exterior of your home.[6]
  2. Step 2 Get rid of bugs in your house. 2 Get rid of bugs in your house. Scorpions feed on insects, so if you have an issue with roaches, ants, or other bugs in the house, you'll need to solve that problem before the scorpions will go away.[7] Here are a few good ways to keep the insect population down in your home:[8]
    • Clean up crumbs and do dishes promptly so bugs don't have a food source.
    • Sprinkle borax or diatomaceous earth around the baseboards and under the sinks in your home; these natural substances kill insects.
    • Consider spraying insecticides around your home to kill insects. Do research and approach this method with caution, since some insecticides are poisonous to humans and pets.
    • Keep the population down outdoors as well, since scorpions prefer to live outside.
  3. Step 3 Remove scorpion shelters. 3 Remove scorpion shelters. Scorpions like to hide in dark places, especially during the day. Get rid of structures in and around your home that could be used as a convenient hiding place by a scorpion. Take the following measures to keep scorpions from hanging around:[9]
    • Store cardboard boxes on shelves instead of the floor.
    • Don't keep clutter around your home or under the beds.
    • Keep your closets and bedrooms neatly organized. Scorpions like to hide in shoes and piles of clothes on the floor.
    • Outdoors, trim back bushes and foliage that scorpions can hide under. Get rid of piles of wood, rocks or yard clippings. Trim back vines and other potential hiding spots.
  4. Step 4 Seal your home. 4 Seal your home.[10] Scorpions can slip through an opening the size of a credit card. Sealing your home is an important method for keeping them from invading. In order to make sure your home is secure, take the following measures to seal the doors, windows and foundation:[11]
    • Use caulk to fill in holes and cracks in your walls, baseboards, or the foundation of your home.
    • Make sure your windows close tightly and the screens are sealed so scorpions can't climb in.
    • Get door seals to prevent scorpions from coming in under the doors.
    5. Advertisement
Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Hunting Scorpions

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  1. Step 1 Get the right equipment. 1 Get the right equipment. The best way to get rid of scorpions as fast as possible is to hunt for them at night when they're most active. It's not for the faint of heart, but killing them one at a time is a good way to reduce the scorpion population around your home, fast. To hunt scorpions, you need the following equipment:
    • A black (ultraviolet) light. They glow in the dark, so you'll be able to see them clearly by using a black light to search them out. Get a flashlight or headlamp with a black light bulb.[12]
    • A tool you can use to kill them. In parts of Arizona, long-handled tweezers used to break the scorpions' exoskeletons are the weapons of choice. You can also use a long knife or wear a pair of heavy boots to step on them.
  2. Step 2 Search around your property for scorpions. 2 Search around your property for scorpions. Look on exterior walls, at the bases of walls and fences, under bushes and other foliage, under rocks, and other outdoor cracks and crevices close to your home. Shine your black light in all of these areas to set scorpions aglow.[13]
    • Scorpions don't normally reside in grass, so you probably won't find many there.
    • You can also look indoors in your attic, along baseboards, and in any other areas where you've seen a scorpion.
  3. Step 3 Kill the scorpions you find. 3 Kill the scorpions you find. Use long-handled tweezers, a knife, or the bottom of your boot to kill the scorpions. Then put them in a trash bag, tie it up and discard it with your regular trash.
  4. Step 4 Use another hunting approach. 4 Use another hunting approach. Hunt at night with a UV flashlight and Raid ant and cockroach spray. Spray each scorpion directly with the spray. This spray has the fastest activation.
    • If the scorpion is high up a wall or on the ceiling, spray with Raid wasp and hornet spray to reach.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question Where do scorpions like to hide? Samuel Ramsey, PhD Samuel Ramsey, PhD Entomologist Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.” Samuel Ramsey, PhD Samuel Ramsey, PhD Entomologist Expert Answer They typically live inside of boroughs, so they generally hide in dark, secluded spaces, like basements, dark corners, under beds, and inside of shoes and slippers. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 8
  • Question How do scorpions get inside? Samuel Ramsey, PhD Samuel Ramsey, PhD Entomologist Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.” Samuel Ramsey, PhD Samuel Ramsey, PhD Entomologist Expert Answer Scorpions are often able to enter homes through breaks in door sweeps at the bottom of the doors. Replacing door sweeps and looking for other areas where pest entry points are possible is important to prevent their entry into your home. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8
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Reader Videos

Tips

  • Shake out bedclothes and shoes if you live in scorpion-prone areas. These are common places for scorpions to hide inside the house. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
  • One of the most common places to get stung is in the shower. Check bathtubs in the winter as scorpions are known to crawl up drains. An easy solution to avoid a catastrophe is to simply check beforehand and let the water run for half a minute before entering the shower. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
  • Outdoors, if you see one scorpion, then there's often another one close by. More times than not, they're not too far away from a buddy of theirs. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
Show More Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • They now sell double-sided sticky tape for insects at home improvement stores in the bug killer section. This stuff goes all the way across the bottom of your door jamb, which is where most of my scorpion invaders come in.
  • Scorpions hate bleach. In the summer, I put a small amount of bleach down all of the drains and toilets every week or two. This has seriously minimized the number of scorpions I've encountered the past few years.
  • Make your own bed every day, especially if you're camping or sleeping on the floor. Scorpions like to hid in bedsheets, and they'll attack if you slide in under the sheets and surprise them.
  • If you get bit, pour milk on the wound. It won't neutralize the venom or serve as medical treatment, but it will soothe any initial burning you experience.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Scorpions may sting if they feel they are being attacked. The sting of most scorpions found in homes is approximately as strong as a bee's or wasp's. Although most scorpion stings will not cause serious injury, see a doctor if you have been stung by a scorpion. It is particularly important to call a doctor if a small child has been stung. Thanks Helpful 181 Not Helpful 79
  • Wear a mask and gloves when spraying or spreading insecticide. Thanks Helpful 122 Not Helpful 57
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home/scorpion-management-in-residential-homes
  2. ↑ https://schoolipm.tamu.edu/forms/pest-management-plans/ipm-action-plan-for-bark-scorpions/
  3. ↑ https://news3lv.com/news/local/tonight-at-7-scorpion-trackers
  4. ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home/scorpion-management-in-residential-homes/
  5. ↑ https://news3lv.com/news/local/tonight-at-7-scorpion-trackers
  6. ↑ https://today.tamu.edu/2018/07/03/hot-dry-summer-has-scorpions-in-texas-heading-indoors/
  7. ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home/scorpion-management-in-residential-homes/
  8. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/dos-and-donts-pest-control
  9. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/scorpion-control/
More References (4)
  1. ↑ Samuel Ramsey, PhD. Entomologist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef641
  3. ↑ https://askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpion
  4. ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home/scorpion-management-in-residential-homes/

About This Article

Elmer Bensinger Co-authored by: Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist This article was co-authored by Elmer Bensinger. Elmer Bensinger is a Pest Control Specialist with Eden Advanced Pest Technologies in Spokane, Washington. With over 20 years of experience, Elmer specializes in integrated pest management and products such as insecticides and rodenticides. He studied business at South Puget Sound Community College. This article has been viewed 796,177 times. 14 votes - 93% Co-authors: 31 Updated: November 28, 2024 Views: 796,177 Categories: Pest Control Article SummaryX

To get rid of scorpions, start by sprinkling cinnamon around your baseboards and windowsills to repel scorpions and discourage them from entering your house. Next, sprinkle borax around under your sink to kill the insects that scorpions feed on. Then, clean up any clutter and make sure to keep your floor clear of piles of clothes so that scorpions don’t have any convenient hiding places. For tips on how to capture scorpions in your home using sticky traps, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Terry C.

    Terry C.

    Jul 13, 2017

    "All the information about killing scorpions is great. We have at least 40 of them in our home every summer. My..." more Rated this article:
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Elmer Bensinger Co-authored by: Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist Co-authors: 31 Updated: November 28, 2024 Views: 796,177 93% of readers found this article helpful. 14 votes - 93% Click a star to add your vote Terry C.

Terry C.

Jul 13, 2017

"All the information about killing scorpions is great. We have at least 40 of them in our home every summer. My..." more Rated this article: Kim

Kim

Nov 2, 2017

"I was getting ready for bed and noticed a scorpion. I went to find a shoe with which to hit it and it disappeared...." more Rated this article: Kimber West

Kimber West

Nov 18, 2016

"I had no info whatsoever about scorpions, but I live in Nevada and we have them here. I didn't realize I had..." more Jane Cavanaugh

Jane Cavanaugh

Nov 28, 2017

"I don't like using poisons, so it's helpful to learn cinnamon works. I've used for ants--it works..." more Susan MartIn

Susan MartIn

Jul 20, 2019

"I was confused about scorpions after I killed a tiny one in my Florida home about an hour ago. I turned to your..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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