How to identify a scorpion
Knowing what scorpions look like is the first step in identifying them. Bark scorpions are the most common scorpion species in Arizona. They are tan to light brown in color, with flat bodies and curling tails. They have two pincers on their front legs and a stinger on the tip of their tail. Adult bark scorpions can grow from one to three inches long.
Because scorpions are nocturnal, they hide during the day, making it less likely that you’ll see them out in the open during daylight hours. Of course, spotting a scorpion when it’s dark out is much harder. However, if you have a blacklight, you can make them much easier to see. Scorpions glow under UV light due to a natural substance in their exoskeletons.
How to identify a scorpion sting
Nine times out of ten, you’ll know if you got stung by a scorpion because you’ll see the scorpion before, during, or after it stings you. However, if you simply feel a sharp pain but don’t know the cause, it helps to know the symptoms that typically follow a scorpion sting. These symptoms can include:
- Intense, localized pain
- Redness and swelling at the site of the sting
- Numbness or tingling around the site of the sting
- Muscle spasms
- Difficulty breathing
- Drooling
- Slurred speech
- Seizures
- Unusual eye movements
If you have any of the signs listed above or other symptoms, it’s best to consult a doctor immediately. Although scorpion sting fatalities are rare, they can happen without treatment.
Signs of scorpions in your yard and home
Now that you know how to identify scorpions and their stings, it’s time to learn to recognize signs of their presence even when you can’t see them. Scorpions do leave behind some signs that they are on your property or in your home, but you have to know what to look for.
One sign of scorpion activity is the tracks and trails they make. When they move around, scorpions leave little trails in the dirt and dust. Scorpion trails are fairly distinct and resemble tiny tire tracks.
Another sign that scorpions are on your property is finding their droppings. Scorpion droppings are small, dark, and cylindrical.
Shed exoskeletons are another sign of scorpions on your property. These will usually be in dark, out-of-the-way locations, but if you find one, it’s a sign that scorpions have been in the area.
It’s also possible to hear scorpions as they move around at night. If you hear a quiet rustling sound, it could be from scorpions.
What attract scorpions
Knowing what attracts scorpions will help you know if your Arizona home and property is at greater risk for a scorpion infestation. The following things all attract scorpions:
- Insects: Scorpions eat crickets, beetles, and other insects, so if you have a lot of bugs on your property, scorpions might come around for the food source.
- Water: Scorpions need water to survive, so dripping faucets, leaking pipes, or other water sources may attract them.
- Shelter: Scorpions prefer to shelter in dark locations, such as under rocks, leaves, or wood piles. Bark scorpions also rest on vertical surfaces, like tree trunks and walls.
- Lights: Lights attract insects. Insects attract scorpions.
How to handle scorpions in your home or yard
If you see scorpions in your Arizona yard or home, have noticed signs of their presence, or know your property has some of the things that attract scorpions, you’ll need to take steps to eliminate and prevent scorpions.
Preventative measures and scorpion control go hand-in-hand. They are best done in partnership with the homeowner and a professional pest control company like Termio Pest Control.
As a homeowner, you can take steps immediately to make your property less appealing to scorpions. Do this by:
- Eliminating moisture around and inside your house.
- Removing clutter and debris from your yard and inside your house.
- Installing yellow light bulbs outside to stop attracting insects.
- Sealing cracks and other openings to keep scorpions out of your house.
In addition to implementing prevention strategies, you’ll want to contact Termio Pest Control to implement a pest and scorpion control plan. By targeting scorpions and the pests that attract them, you can protect your family from a variety of harmful pests at once.
Termio Pest Control’s Termio Essentials Plan protects your property from 20 pests, including scorpions. Ideal for homeowners in the Phoenix metro, including Queen Creek and Chandler, it includes a detailed pest inspection, quarterly treatments, and free re-treatments if necessary. It also comes with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
To protect your home and loved ones from scorpions, it helps to know the signs. Be proactive with prevention strategies and scorpion control services from Termio Pest Control. To get started, contact us today!
