How to Deal with Scorpions

If you have seen the Indiana Jones movies you know a little something about snakes, bugs and scorpions. Well scorpions in the movies are one thing, and in real life quite another. Some people may think that scorpions are not found roaming the United States, but they would definitely be wrong. There are many places all over the country that have these nasty stinging critters roaming around and Texas is one of them! While there are 1,500 species of scorpions worldwide, 20 known species can be found in Texas. Do you have scorpions and what can you do about them? First you need to know a little about their habits and lifestyle before you can manage them.

Scorpions can come in many different sizes and colors and can be recognized by their two large pincers at the front and their curved tail in the back. These critters are venomous and some species can be life threatening if a person is stung. There is one particular species that has been found mainly in drier, warm climates and can be fatal to a human called the bark scorpion. The striped bark scorpion is the most common species found in the Houston area.

In the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Indiana Jones’ advice is “”When it comes to scorpions, the bigger the better. Small one bites ya, don’t keep it to yourself.” This advice is generally correct. While larger adult scorpions are still dangerous, it is thought that their venom is weaker. This could be because they release less of it; perhaps just enough to warn their attacker. They then conserve some venom for use later. A small or baby scorpion may not be old enough to think about using restraint and may literally release every bit of poison it has until nothing is left. They may also release more venom as a self-preservation method as they are not as likely to be able to overpower their victim like a larger scorpion could.

Scorpions tend to like to hide in places such as shoes, beds and piles of dried leaves or branches. They can be small and hard to detect if you are not sure of ways to find out where they are hiding. One way to look for the presence of scorpions is to use an ultraviolet light or better known as a black light. If you are wondering why this would help, it is because scorpions actually glow a blueish green under the light. They have a fluorescent chemical in their cuticle. This means that you can see them more clearly if you take the light out to your walls and walkways and shine it around. This may help determine if you in fact have any scorpions that may try and make their way into your home. It should be noted that Scorpions usually mate during the Spring and the Fall and can be found more often during these times of the year.

Here are some ways to prevent these pests from taking refuge around your home. It is a good idea to eliminate any standing water. You may also want to take away any foliage, buildup of leaves or branches and firewood stacks that can be used as a home for these little stingers and many other pests. You can also help keep scorpions out of your home through regular perimeter pest control treatments from Bio-Tech Pest Control. Our initial scorpion control includes a thorough inspection and treatment of many areas of scorpion harborage such as attics, wall voids and other entry points.