Are Scorpions Dangerous?
If a creature is larger than another creature, does that make it more dangerous? Not always. Take mosquitoes as an example. These tiny bugs are responsible for over one million deaths each year. One would not expect that sort of threat from such a small, inconspicuous bug. People do, however, expect to be injured by creatures like scorpions. The question is, do scorpions pose a serious risk to human health, or are they just scary to look at? Here are some things to consider about these pests and some methods to help you keep them off your Beaumont property.
Where Scorpions Live
Some pests enjoy living indoors with humans. They thrive in our temperature-controlled homes and love having access to pantries and water sources. Scorpions are not this way. These arachnids enjoy living in arid, dry climates. To stay cool during the day, these pests seek shelter under rocks, debris, and in other secluded areas. For food, scorpions hunt insects, arthropods, and other arachnids like spiders. When scorpions do find themselves inside homes, they tend to stick around secluded areas away from heavy foot traffic. During the night these pests will emerge and wander around living areas, hunting for prey.
What Drives Scorpions Into Homes?
Scorpions do not prefer living indoors but will invade homes when it is necessary for their survival. Most often scorpions are pushed indoors by things like construction and inclement weather. These types of events disturb scorpions' natural habitat and force them to relocate. The other main reason that draws scorpions into homes is a lack of food, outdoors. If insect, arthropod, and arachnid populations are low in an area, and a home close by has pest problems, scorpions may get inside and stay because they are being fed.
The Dangers Scorpions Pose
There are many species of scorpions around the globe that pose serious health risks to humans. Thankfully, none of these species live here in Beaumont. In our area, the most harmful scorpion is the striped bark scorpion. This 2 ½” long yellowish-tan arachnid has two large pincers, a segmented tail, mounted with a stinger, and two dark stripes running down its back. A sting from this pest is painful and is likened to that of a bee or wasp. Individuals who have an allergy to insect venom should be extra cautious around these creepy critters as a sting could mean serious trouble. To find out if you are allergic to scorpion venom, talk to your doctor.
How to Keep Scorpions Away From Your Home
Regardless of how dangerous scorpions are in our area, no one wants these pests invading their home. To help you keep scorpions out of your living areas, here are some helpful prevention tips to try.
- Identify and seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Make sure your home’s window/door screens are in good condition.
- Install door sweeps under doors that lead out of your home.
- Repair or replace weatherstripping that is damaged or installed improperly.
- Decrease clutter and eliminate debris in and around your home.
Tips To Avoid Being Stung By A Scorpion
If you encounter a scorpion, you should use extreme caution. Do not attempt to remove the scorpion from your home unless you are wearing gloves and long sleeves. Knowing where scorpions like to hide is important for your safety. In your home, scorpions like to hide in closets and shoes. Outside, scorpions are drawn to tall grass, rock piles, and woodpiles. Keep the grass mowed regularly, firewood stored well away from your home, and shake out anything that scorpions could crawl into when not in use. Use caution when reaching into areas where visibility is limited.
The smell of certain essential oils deters scorpions. Lavender, cedarwood, peppermint, and cinnamon are all scents that scorpions hate. These essential oils can be mixed with carrier oil and sprayed on potential entry areas to help deter scorpions from coming into your home.
The Best Answer To Scorpions
Keeping scorpions outside where they belong is not an easy task. If you are in need of a solution to keep these dangerous pests out of your Beaumont home, please consider getting a professional involved. At Bill Clark Pest Control, we make scorpion control easy, accessible, and affordable for homeowners. We also offer a range of general pest control plans to help you protect your property from a range of invasive insects, arthropods, arachnids, and rodents. Call us today to learn more and schedule your Beaumont home for a service visit.