Learn More About Scorpions

Learn More About Scorpions

Professional Scorpion Prevention Tips

You and your family have decided to put down roots and create a home in a more rural, tranquil setting, outside of city limits and away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. You understood that moving away from the city and close to nature would bring you and your family closer to things like birds, squirrels, mice, spiders, insects, and even the occasional skunk or porcupine; you may not have, however, have realized that you would also be moving closer to scorpions. To help protect your family and give you peace of mind regarding these potentially dangerous creatures, the professionals at Russell’s Pest Control want to provide you with some helpful information about scorpions, including how to keep these stinging pests out of your home!

The first thing to know about scorpions is that while there are some very venomous and dangerous species of scorpions found living in the United States, the species found in East Tennessee pose much lower health risks to people. However, this is not to say that you shouldn’t be cautious around scorpions. Scorpions are definitely a pest that you want to take great care around. A sting from a scorpion is very painful, like a very painful bee sting, and depending on the person, could cause a serious allergic reaction. A scorpion sting should always be taken seriously, and if necessary, medical attention should be sought. Another problem with finding a scorpion on your property, near your home, or inside of your home is that if you see one, there are likely many more lurking around that you aren’t seeing.

Now that you have learned a bit more about East Tennessee scorpions, you are probably wondering how to keep them out of your home. The following scorpion prevention tips will help to keep scorpions from being attracted to your property and finding their way into your home, as well as help prevent you from being stung:

Outside your home:

  • Remove clutter and debris from your yard; scorpions like to hide in the cool shade that clutter provides.
  • Trim back trees and bushes away from the exterior of your home.
  • Inspect the exterior of your house, sealing any spaces or gaps that could allow scorpions to gain access into your home.
  • Make sure that all window and doors screens are completely intact.
  • When working outside or in outbuildings like garages and sheds, always wear work gloves.

Inside your home:

  • Reduce clutter inside your home, especially in storage areas like basements and closets, where scorpions typically like to hide.
  • Shake out clothing and shoes before putting them on.
  • Pull down bedding and inspect your bed for scorpions before lying down for the night.
  • Try not to leave piles of clothing on the floors, especially damp towels; scorpions love to hide under them.

If you are experiencing problems with scorpions on your East Tennessee property or inside of your home, contact us at Russell’s Pest Control. Our highly trained professionals are experienced at handling problems with scorpions and will safely remove them from your property; they will then work with you to put prevention measures into place, including implementing a year-round home pest control plan, to prevent their return. To receive the necessary professional help needed to keep your rural home free of scorpions, give us a call today at Russell’s Pest Control – East Tennessee’s pest control experts!

The Other Arachnid In East Tennessee

For something new and different, I thought we might cover a pest whose presence is often extremely surprising to East Tennessee homeowners. In fact, these creatures are so evasive that most people don’t know that they’re in the area. I’m talking about scorpions, a creature that, unfortunately, invokes the kind of fear responses that people usually reserve for spiders. They are cousins, after all.

Yes, there are scorpions in East Tennessee. They live mostly in the Smoky Mountains, which tends to surprise people since we often assume that scorpions must live in hot, dry areas. In fact, two species of scorpions live in our area, though they’re both quite small and fairly inoffensive.

Scorpions are easily identified by their arcing tail that they carry over their heads and the claws that they have in front like little lobsters. Yes, even our small scorpions can sting, but neither of the species in this state is considered dangerous. Unless you have a random allergy to their venom (which is quite unlikely), their sting is no worse than a bee sting. Their color can range from light tan to a dark brown, and they’re well-equipped with camouflage to help them blend in to the floors of the forests around here that are covered in leaves and pine needles.

Scorpions are most active during warm weather, which means that you are unlikely to encounter one in the wild before 2014. However, scorpions don’t mind the cold too much and can wait out bad weather with ease since they can go up to six months without eating. This is important since a scorpion can live 5-6 years and needs to be able to survive all the seasons.

Like spiders, scorpions are predators, so they are drawn to debris where other bugs may be living. If residents do find scorpions in the house, it is likely because they were drawn there by a woodpile or leaves too close to the structure. They are also drawn to moisture (likely because moisture is attractive to their prey), so you are most likely to find them in a bathroom or laundry room if they are indoors.

Interestingly enough, scorpions regulate their hunting habits based on their size. Large scorpions out in Arizona and California (which can grow up to 5-7 inches) rely on their strength to catch prey and crush them to death before consuming them. Small scorpions like the ones in Tennessee must rely on stealth-based hunting since they have to ensure that they can immobilize their insect prey with venom before eating them. This is why most Tennessee residents have never seen a scorpion. They are nocturnal hunters and would always prefer to avoid a fight they think they can’t win (though they’re not afraid to have a go at a person if they feel cornered).

Scorpions aren’t like ants and spiders, and you’ll probably never have a problem with an infestation of them in your home. However, we at Russell’s Pest Control know that it pays to be prepared for the unlikely. If you do start to see scorpions around the house, we know how to take care of them. Contact us here; we’d be glad to come out and handle the little creepers for you so you don’t have to.