Scorpion Control: How To Get Rid of Scorpions

This page is a general scorpion control guide. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of scorpions. Follow this guide and use the recommended products; we guarantee 100% control of scorpions.

Scorpions are regarded as some of the most dangerous insects. While it can be quite rare for a scorpion to find its way into your home, it is possible and has become more frequent in recent years. They used to be found primarily in the southwest U.S. but have been appearing nationwide.

Scorpions are natural wanderers and will often stumble into homes in search of insects to prey on or in search of shelter. They might enter homes through the garage or other points of entry. Scorpions are also venomous and possess a stinger that could be fatal to humans. Even if the sting is not venomous, it can create swelling and sometimes cause severe allergic reactions.

If you have encountered a scorpion on your property, our DIY guide will show you the best steps and professional products to eliminate the scorpion and prevent future invasions.

Identification

Before proceeding with treatment, you must be certain the pest infesting your property is a scorpion. Misidentification can lead you to use the wrong pesticides, wasting your time and finances. Below are some traits to know what scorpions look like:

• Scorpions are part of the arachnid family and are closely related to ticks, mites, and spiders. Close to 1,300 species of scorpions have been found all over the world. Thankfully, most scorpions in the United States are not venomous, except for two species found in the southwestern states of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Scorpions are often believed to only reside in the desert but are adaptable to various climates and habitats.
• Scorpions are not as common as other household pests, but they can, on rare occasions, wander into the home. Depending on the species and age, they vary in color and size, from less than half an inch to as large as 9 inches long.
• Scorpions are distinguished by their 8 legs and two pincher arms.
• Their most distinguishing feature, however, is the stinger on the end of its tail, which curves upwards over its body. They use their stinger to attack and paralyze their prey for consumption or defense. 

Use the description and image above to determine whether the pest you are encountering is a Scorpion. If you are unsure, contact our experts; we will help you identify the correct one.

Inspection

Once you have identified the pest you are dealing with as a scorpion, you need to know where the scorpions are coming from and where they are hiding inside your home. Scorpions are wandering nomads often meant for the desert, but in their travels, they can venture into a residential area and find refuge, so you will need to perform a careful inspection around your home.

Where To Inspect

Scorpions like to hide during the day and can usually be discovered underneath clutter or stacked equipment.

When inspecting for scorpions, check your mulch piles, coiled hoses, and under rocks. Indoors, scorpions will be on the hunt for food and water while hiding in seclusion.

With this in mind, check storage areas, the attic, piles of clothes, inside shoes, and under furniture. Scorpions are nocturnal, so hunting for them at night may be the most likely time to find them out and about.

What To Look For

You're looking for scorpions and their possible harborage areas. You should also look for areas where they have gained access to or entered your home so you can mark it for exclusion measures. 

Wherever you've found scorpions inside or outside your property, note where you found them, as this is where you will apply treatment.

Treatment

Once you have located scorpion activity, it is time to begin treatment. Remember to read all product labels, follow the application instructions on these labels, and wear personal protective equipment to stay safe. 

To treat scorpions, we recommend a barrier treatment of Supreme IT Insecticide and a treatment of D-Fense Dust around cracks, crevices, and openings. Supreme IT Insecticide should also be applied indoors to discourage pest harborage and keep scorpions away.

For any scorpions you lost sight of, you should also lay out Solutions Pro Glue Boards to capture any wandering scorpions on your property.

Step 1: Mix and Apply Supreme IT Insecticide

Supreme IT is an insecticide concentrate designed to control over 70 insect pests. It is ideal for Scorpion control because it will kill many insects (the scorpion's food source).

Supreme IT will also repel and kill scorpions close to your property. Using it as an insecticidal barrier around your structure will prevent scorpions from wandering inside. The best part about Supreme IT is its residual effect, as the product can remain effective for up to 90 days after application.

Measure the square footage of the treatment area to determine how much Supreme IT insecticide you will need. To do this, measure the area's length and width in feet, then multiply them together (length x width = square footage).

Mix Supreme 0.25 to 0.5 fl. oz. per 1 gallon of water per 1,000 sq. ft. 

Mix and apply this product with a handheld pump sprayer or hose-end sprayer.

Spray a barrier treatment around entry points to your home, doors, and windows, on your yard turfgrass, and other problem areas. We recommended setting your nozzle to a fan spray setting for even coverage on grass and surfaces and a pin stream setting when spraying cracks and crevices. Avoid the treated areas until the product dries. 

Next, apply as broadcast treatment all over the yard. Start at the back of the yard and make your way to the front, spraying the whole lawn. Spraying in this manner also targets mulch beds, decorative rocks, landscaping, ornamentals, and areas where scorpions may harbor.

You can also optionally apply the product indoors in cracks and crevices, such as in your garage and storage areas.

Step 2: Indoor Treatment

 D-Fense Dust is a great insecticidal dust that lasts up to 8 months and is moisture-resistant. It is perfect for applying in small cracks and crevices where scorpions hide. For precision application, D-Fense Dust is best used with a handheld duster.

To apply, fill the duster halfway with D-Fense Dust and close. 0.75 lb of D-Fense Dust can treat up to 1,500 sq. ft. area.

Apply by squeezing the duster into small openings. Go inside your home and apply in areas where you found scorpions or where scorpions might hide.

Apply in cracks and crevices, close to baseboards, in voids in walls, in openings underneath sinks where plumbing penetrates the wall, and around openings near window and door frames.

Step 3: Lay Out Solutions Pro Glue Boards

Sticky cardboard traps are an effective, low-cost method of capturing scorpions that have wandered around the home you lost sight of.

Lay out a few Solutions Pro Glue Boards in the basement, around the garage, around points of entry, in the yard, and other suspected areas. This glue board comes in increments of 72, which is just enough for complete coverage around an average-sized home or property.

Simply peel off the wax paper and lay it in prime active areas. The glue board will likely capture some insects, and then a scorpion may approach the board to eat the trapped bugs and get trapped. After that, you can easily dispose of the glue board and scorpion.

Prevention

Prevent scorpions from establishing themselves on your property by performing some common preventative strategies listed below:

• While keeping scorpions away isn't something that's totally within your control since scorpions often wander into a home by accident, you can make your home less appealing to them by putting in place some integrated pest management measures. This means reducing clutter and leaf litter around the home, putting screens on doors and windows, sealing up cracks and crevices with caulk, and reducing clutter inside and outside the house, namely in storage areas and secluded rooms that don't see much activity.
• For more added protection, apply D-Fense Dust inside cracks and crevices before sealing them with caulk or Copper Mesh.
• Finally, spraying Supreme IT every 3 months will help protect your structure and yard from invading insect pests and scorpions.

Key Takeaways

What Are Scorpions?

• Scorpions are a rare pest to encounter in the home but occasionally wander indoors, often by accident.

How to Get Rid of Scorpions

• Use a combination of Supreme IT Insecticide, D-Fense Dust, and Catchmaster Glue Traps to eliminate scorpion invasions.

Preventing Scorpion Reinfestations

• Use Copper Mesh, reduce clutter, and other IPM measures to reduce the likelihood of scorpions returning. Preventative applications of Supreme IT and D-Fense Dust also help.