Scorpion Preparation

CLIENT EDUCATION – Scorpions

The Pest

Scorpions are nuisance pests and are of medical importance because of their stings. Their stings may result in a mild wasp like sting, which can be complicated by an allergic reaction with a varying degree of concern.

Why Do I Have this Pest?

Scorpions are occasional invaders that enter your home from time to time as they search for food and harborage. External situations such as moisture, mulch, vegetation, rock, landscape timbers, debris and exterior light sources all contribute to the presence and populations of scorpions. The soundness of the construction of your home will be a factor in determining how scorpions make it into your home.

What will Critter Gitters Pest Management Do?

Critter Gitters (CG) Pest Management is specifically focused on helping you maintain your home free of scorpions. Control is a 3 step process consisting of harborage elimination, food / prey reduction, and exclusion.

1. Harborage Elimination During our initial inspection CG will identify and make recommendations regarding potential scorpion harborage spots which include piles of wood, trash, and debris, firewood stored on the ground, stones / landscape timbers, overgrown vegetation and plant material with in 2’ of the house. The key is to reduce or eliminate conditions that scorpions prefer because these conditions aid in water loss. These conditions do this by reducing air currents and/or providing moisture via condensation.
2. Food or prey reduction Consists of reducing the arthropod population around and within the structure. This is accomplished by our Monthly Scorpion Service performed during peak pest months of May through September. CG will directly target the areas in your yard and near your home that are most likely breeding and shelter points for these pests. Interior treatments will focus on cracks and crevices, wall voids, attics, closets, spaces around plumbing, doorways, windows and any other areas where scorpions might hide. Exterior treatments will be focused on the structure, crawl space (if present), landscape materials, trees, and foliage areas.
3. Exclusion consists off tight door thresholds, windows with tight fitting screens in good repair, sealing around door and window frames, utility pipe entrances, vents, facia boards, and weep holes. (CG) personnel will provide direction to the consumer with a proposal for making suggested repairs if customer is interested.

What Will Happen Next?

Our recurring Scorpion control plan is the key to remaining free of scorpions. The treatments utilized have a residual effect so we can expect control for several weeks. Unfortunately, the suns UV light breaks down the materials used rapidly, and our efforts do not hold up as well for scorpions like they do for other arthropods. This rapid breakdown combined with the scorpions body style and resiliency require more frequent treatments. This is why scorpion treatments are on a 30-day rotation from May to September when scorpions and their food source are most active.