Scorpions

Most are not poisonous, except for two species found in the southwestern states like Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Scorpions are commonly thought of as desert animals, but in fact, they occur in many other habitats as well, including grasslands and savannahs, deciduous forests, pine forests, rain forest and caves.

Scorpions are nocturnal, predatory animals that feed on a variety of insects, spiders, centipedes, and other scorpions. The larger scorpions occasionally feed on vertebrates, such as smaller lizards, snakes, and mice. Prey are located primarily by sensing vibrations.

Although scorpions are equipped with venom to defend themselves, scorpions fall prey to many types of creatures, such as centipedes, tarantulas, insectivorous lizards, birds (especially owls), and mammals (including shrews, grasshopper mice, bats). Scorpions feed mainly on insects and spiders and can survive without feeding for six months. During the day scorpions hide under stones, in piles of rocks, in cracks in masonry, in wood piles and under the bark of trees. Scorpions enter structures seeking water and shelter.

APPEARANCE

Scorpions have long, slender body iwth a 5-segmented tail that be arched over the back. Varies between species, but most measure about 2 inches fully grown. Can vary widely between yellow, blue, reddish brown, and black. Most of the scorpions that enter dwellings are not poisonous, their stings like those of bees or wasps.

A typical non poisonous scorpion is the common striped Centruroides vittatus, Striped back scorpion. This species is widely distributed in the southern United States. It has 2 broad, dark bands extending the length of the back, on an otherwise yellowish-brown body.

However, certain species in the desert Southwest can bepoisonous. The US species, Centruroides exilicauda , (Bark Scorpion-pale yellow in color)is found over much of the Southwest. Also known as the bark scorpion, they are pale and small, making them extremely difficult to see.

SCORPION CONTROL

Remove outdoor harborages e.g. piles of trash, stones, boards, firewood on the ground and the landscape timbers, should be removed.  Points of entry into buildings, e.g. siding, windows, doors, pipes and wires, should be sealed.

The use of a residual insecticide such as the wettable powders(WP). Demon WP or  Cynoff WP should be applied as a 3- to 10-foot band around the perimeter of the structure, into harborage sites, and/or around potential entry points, such as:
around all windows and doors, along baseboards, plumbing, inside closets, and garage and basement areas.

The next best alternative would be : Cyonara 9.7, Masterline Bifenthrin 7.9 or Suspend SC. These products would last just as long and cannot not be seen against dark surfaces. However, wettable powders work better against scorpions.

The use of dusts: Drione Dust  or  Delta Dust should be used in the attic area if that is source of entry. A convenient duster for dusting the attic area would be the Bellow Bulb Duster.