By the the time you start gearing up to go scorpion hunting, you’re approaching the end of your ropes and wondering what you ever did to deserve a scorpion problem.
Do you want to know how I do it? Because you’re here, reading this article.
I’d like to believe you’re here for my dazzling prose and witty banter, but we both know that isn’t true. You’re here because you’ve seen signs of a scorpion infestation and you need to attack or be attacked. It’s not an ideal situation to be in.
You are showing initiative, and we salute you. Scorpion hunting is only for the brave. While regularly exterminating scorpions from your home is an excellent way to prevent them returning, it’s not something that everyone can do. So kudos to you.
And let’s get started before the courage wears off. Here’s how to hunt scorpions and kill them – before they come for you and your own.
Questions about Scorpion Hunting
Before we get into the nitty gritty of hunting scorpions, here are couple things you’ll need to know to aid you in your endeavor.
What time of year are scorpions the most active?
Scorpions are actually nocturnal creatures – once the lights are out, they begin their evening’s work hunting down any pesky critters they can. This also means that they hide in quiet places during the day, creating problems for humans.
It is so easy to get rid of scorpions!
The most vulnerable species to survive are scorpions. Alongside their disgusting brethren the cockroach, scorpions are able to reflect great bouts of radiation, meaning that in the event of all out nuclear war, they’re likely to survive as a relatively intact species unlike the rest of us.
Twinkies, cockroaches, and scorpions. What a world we’ll leave behind.
But this doesn’t mean individual scorpions are difficult to kill. Even though scorpions can be hardy and ferocious, they are easy to kill once the right techniques have been learned.
What do scorpion hunters wear?
You need to be dressed appropriately before you can take on a scorpion-slaying demon. And I’m not talking about those cute shoes you’ve been saving for the right occasion. Scorpions are merciless fashion critics, and you’ll need to make sure your ensemble is right.
But in all seriousness – forget about dressing to impress and focus on bundling up to save your precious skin. A pair of jeans, or trousers made from a similar fabric to stop stingers reaching your skin would work well. Similar rules apply to your arms, torso and legs.
The heavier your clothes, the safer you’ll be. Avoid sandals and wear closed shoes to protect your feet. A good pair of gloves for gardening will also protect your hands. Ok, maybe you won’t look your best. But that scorpion will be laughing out of the other side of his mandibles once he finds out he can’t hurt you.
Scorpion Hunting: 3 Simple Steps
Scorpions can be scary. Most people would rather run a mile rather than take one on, mano a …scorpiono? But you are one of the few people out there who aren’t massive cowards, and will actually stand and fight instead of run and hide at the first sign of approaching pincers.
So for the brave and crazy souls like yourself, here’s a 3-step guide on scorpion hunting without harming yourself in the process.
Step 1. Step 1. How to find Scorpions
Scorpion hunting should be done at night as scorpions can only be seen at night. You will need a flashlight to help you see the scorpions.
Not any flashlight is enough. You’ll need a UV scorpion black light – scorpion’s exoskeletons contain a protein that glows under black light, making them much easier to spot. And when you’re hunting scorpions, the best tool you’ll have is the ability to see them clearly.
A UV flashlight is an essential item. Buy one. They’re invaluable when it comes to hunting scorpions.
These are the top places to search for scorpions.
- Dark, quiet places. You should inspect any dark areas in your house. For scorpions to snuggle up in, crevices and corners are great places for them to hide.
- Hydration and moisture Scorpions, like all living things require water. Therefore, water pipes and air conditioners that gather moisture provide a great habitat.
- Others insects Scorpions require insects for food, so check any areas that these insects love to hide in.
- Outdoor scorpion hiding spots. There’s a chance that you might find a scorpion in your hunt. Moving outside, check wood piles, compost bins, piles of leaves – anywhere that offers shade and humidity.
- Loose soil. A place that has lots of dirt is an excellent spot to conceal scorpions. To survive, scorpions must burrow.
- You can also use gazebos or under sheds. Your neighbors might think it’s odd, but you’ll be the one laughing when they get stung. (Well, at least not. That’s kind of mean.)
You could set aside time to check your home for scorpions if you are able. You will be able to remove scorpions from your property and monitor their activity. You can also meet scorpions on your terms, and you won’t have to worry about them getting into your home.
This is particularly helpful if you’re using other scorpion killers – which you should – to get rid of a scorpion infestation. The nightly raid will let you see how successful your scorpion control efforts have been.
Step 2. Step 2.
Be careful if you spot a scorpion. A scorpion may react to feeling threatened and start to lash out in an attempt at protection. You’ll want to act quickly and effectively.
To do so, you need to know how you want to deal with the scorpion – capture and release OR kill.
How to Catch a Scorpion
There are many options when it comes to safe capturing a scorpion and releasing it.
Glass container, jar, or bowl. A scorpion can be captured by placing it in a container. However, gloves and long sleeves are recommended to keep yourself safe. Once the scorpion is trapped, cover the mouth of the container with thick paper or a plastic placemat – something sturdy – until you can release it in the wild.
BugView is a bug-catching tool. It is safe and effective for catching scorpions, as well as holding them in place until they are released. It works similar to the container method except there’s a handle so a smaller risk of getting stung.
Use long-handled forks, tweezers or tongs. You can grab the scorpion securely with these tweezers without putting yourself at risk. You could get tweezers as long as 15 inches. You can also get sturdy tongs measuring 17 inches. You can also get forceps 24 inches long if you want extra safety.
Use a broom and a dustpan. Sometimes the easiest solutions work best. If you have a broom and deep dustpan nearby, you can use this duo to sweep and scoop up scorpions and carry them to wherever you’re going to release them. If you don’t have one already, we recommend this broom and dustpan option.
Tape on a stick. If you want to go the DIY route, one option to quickly catch a scorpion is to fix a turned-inside-out piece of duct tape to the end of a stick – i.e. Baseball bat, broom handle or hiking stick. Press the tape-end of your stick on to a scorpion when you notice it.
When you’ve trapped the scorpion, make sure to release it as far away from your home as possible so it has little chance of finding its way back.
Of course, if you want to make absolutely certain that the scorpion will never return to haunt your property again, there is another option…
How to Kill a Scorpion
There are many to choose from. certified lunatics There are many brave people who engage in hands-to-pincer fighting with their arachnid enemies. However, opinions differ on what the best anti-scorpion tool is. As tempting as it might be, I wouldn’t recommend blasting it with a handgun – it’s overkill. It’s also unnecessary to set it ablaze.
We have some better options for killing a scorpion.
Blunt force You can bash a scorpion with a stick, a golf club, even an especially heavy shoe if that’s all you have. However, be cautious. You need to be careful. Some scorpions can flatten their bodies as well as coins. This could mean that you end up with a more loving tap than a deadly blow. Before you approach the scorpion, make sure it is completely squashed.
It is easy to do. Scorpions can be killed by piercing their exoskeleton. It is the outer tough shell around their body that keeps their delicate bits in place. To do that without exposing yourself to that menacing stinger, you’re going to want to keep your distance. These are some of the most effective tools you can use.
- Long-handled tweezers. Tweezers with long handles aren’t just great for grabbing scorpions. You can also use their sharp, pointy ends to pierce the scorpion’s body and then pick it up and keep it at arm’s length while you dispose of its corpse. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of scorpion hunting. Speaking of knives…
- A sharp knife. If you’re not lucky enough to have long tweezers at hand, a long sharp knife that enables you to keep out of reach of the little beastie’s stinger will do the trick.
- Use this DIY scorpion tool. If you’d prefer to DIY it, a screwdriver taped to the end of a long stick – i.e. old broom handle – works just as well.
Last note: If you’re planning on doing enough scorpion killing to warrant buying some long tweezers, go for ones that are at least 10 inches long. They’re low-cost and have infinite uses.
Spray it until you die. Last but not least, for all of us who are a little more squeamish and would rather not do any crushing or squishing – there’s hope for us yet.
It’s also the most convenient way to kill a scorpion dead without getting too close: use a scorpion killing spray. These are the best scorpion killing sprays.
And there you have it – the best ways to quickly kill a scorpion. Is the scorpion problem over now? Well, not quite. It is a known fact that Scorpions can play dead to protect themselves. Make sure it’s dead.
Ok, so you’ve triple checked. You’ve prodded and poked its body. You’ve insulted its mother, and the scorpion still didn’t stir. You’re sure it’s dead. You can’t let that happen, murderer. Just because it’s dead doesn’t mean it’s safe. It can still bite you from BEYOND THE GRAAAAVE
When picking up your defeated foe, be careful not to touch the stinger. To handle the scorpion, use the tools that you already have such as a dustpan and broom or a long-handled weezer. This is the most effective way to avoid getting stung.
A Pregnant Scorpion
Another scenario to be mindful of is that you might encounter a scorpion pregnant or with baby scorpions attached to her back.
These are some facts and figures about scorpions that are pregnant:
- One female scorpion could have as many as 100 children at once
- Scorpions are “ovoviviparous” so the eggs hatch inside the mom and babies are born separately
- When scorpion babies, aka scorplings, are born, they are vulnerable with soft exoskeletons so they are carried on their mother’s back until they molt and their exoskeletons harden
- Some scorpion species like the Striped Bark scorpion are either pregnant or have babies for most of their lives.
You need to be cautious when handling a pregnant scorpion, or one with scorplings attached. It has been proven that female scorpions who are nearly always pregnant are more likely to sting.
And when it comes to mother scorpions with scorplings on her back, the last thing you want to do is attempt to hit or pierce it – this can cause the little scorplings to scatter around your home and property.
This is a horrible scenario because scorplings have soft exoskeletons that don’t yet fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Finding them once they’ve scattered will be a very difficult task.
What can you do to deal with this situation? You can use a scorpion killer spray to get rid of them. A vacuum wand can also be used to swiftly capture the whole brood. These are both the most effective ways to rid scorpions of their eggs.
Step 3. Step 3. How to Get Rid of a Scorpion
Resist the temptation to mount your freshly killed scorpion’s head above the door as a warning to others. Despite their abundance of eyes, scorpions don’t see very well. They wouldn’t notice their cousin’s dismembered corpse on your mantelpiece.
(Yes, scorpions have twelve eyes. It’s true. You learn more about scorpions the creepier they become.
How do you get rid of a scorpion in your yard? There are two great options.
One way to get rid of a scorpion’s corpse is to bury it. Toss the scorpion’s corpse in a hole dug in your yard. Flowers are not required. You can say just a few words if you wish. But do it quietly, unless you want your neighbors to think you’ve lost your mind.
You can also seal the scorpion and place it in a bag.
Both cases require that you be careful about disposing the body.
Once the scorpion is gone, you’re going to need a new name and a fake passport. Buy a bus ticket with cash and…oh, wait. Never mind. I was thinking of… something else.
There is no way to find a dead scorpion. Its relatives will not be coming looking for revenge. Therefore, you will be able to rest comfortably in your bed knowing that the house is yours.
Until the next time a scorpion shows up…
Scorpion hunting: Is it enough?
You will feel a sense of fulfillment by actively fighting the scorpions on your property. But let’s be honest: If you have a scorpion infestation on your property, killing a scorpion (or five) isn’t going to make a big dent.
One female scorpion could have up to 100 babies at once. You can’t go around picking them off, one by one. It’s inefficient and frankly, who has the time?
We recommend that scorpion hunting be used in conjunction with other ways to rid scorpions. On its own, it’s unlikely to be an effective solution to a scorpion problem.
You can combine this with a plan to eliminate scorpions. Well, then it’s just a matter of time until you’ll have no more scorpions left on your property to hunt.
And, if the thought of going looking for scorpions at night scares you senseless – well, I don’t blame you. If this is the case, it might be worth hiring a pest control expert to handle the job.
