Except for termites, scorpions are our most commonly called-about pest. We’re coming into the active season for them, and they are out in droves, so here’s a quick reminder about the dangers of their sting, and how to prevent them.

What attracts scorpions into my home?

Generally any one or a combination of these three things – shelter, climate control, or food. The shelter and climate control factors are probably always going to be factors that attract scorpions (and other bugs). No one would blame you for wanting to keep your home and air conditioner. However, to prevent yourself and your family from sharing your space with these unwanted guests there are a few things you can do.

First, ensure doors and windows are properly sealed, and develop good habits around keeping them closed whenever possible. The food factor is a little different – they don’t generally want your food. They want other bugs that are also getting into your house through those doors and windows – crickets, beetles, spiders, etc. Professional pest control services like ours can not only rid you of scorpions, it can also prevent them in the first place by eliminating their food sources from within your home.

Are scorpion stings painful?

Depends on the species of scorpion! Emperor scorpions, for example, have mild stings that are frequently compared to a bee sting. But in Arizona, we have the Arizona bark scorpion among our ranks. This species is considered to be among the most venomous species in not only the US, but the world. The pain of their sting is intense, and is often accompanied by tingling, numbness, physical illness, etc. Symptoms usually improve within a couple of days and don’t normally require medical intervention in healthy adults. However, be sure to contact your local poison control center or a medical professional if you have any concerns after a sting – especially if the victim is either a child, allergic, or an older or medically vulnerable adult.

For more information, check out our previous scorpion blogs here as well as
this local new article on them. And if you have any questions, or need help with your scorpion problems, just give us a call or email!