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Scorpions Guide
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Inspect
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Scorpions Identification Guide
Learn What Scorpions Look Like
Scorpions, though less common than pests like ants or cockroaches, can still be found in homes and yards across the United States. While scorpions typically don’t cause damage to personal belongings, their stings can be irritating and, in rare cases, medically significant.
Understanding which scorpions inhabit your region is crucial, especially in the event of a sting. Though severe reactions are uncommon, some scorpion species can pose health risks.
If you suspect a pest in your home or yard might be a scorpion, use this guide to identify it with confidence.
Scorpions Characteristics
Size
Graphic comparing the sizes of the largest and smallest scorpions in the world
Scorpions vary in size, ranging from 0.3 inches to 9 inches in length, depending on their age.
Shape
Diagram of scorpion anatomy
Scorpions possess 8 legs and 2 pincers, or chelae. Their tails are curled, ending with a stinger, and they have several eyes on their head. Scorpions also have a thick head and abdomen.
Color
Image montage of various colors of scorpions
Scorpions can be found in various colors, with most being yellow or black to help them blend into their environment. Some scorpions also appear in shades of red or brown.
Range
Map showing the range of scorpions in the United States
While scorpions are most commonly found in the American Southwest, they are present throughout the United States, thriving in a wide range of climates.
Think you might have scorpions? Discover where scorpions hide in your home and how to eliminate them by continuing with the rest of our guide. Click the right arrow below to learn more.
Scorpion Inspection Guide
Where Do Scorpions Hide in Your Home?
Although scorpions are often linked to desert environments, they can seek shelter in your home or yard in search of food and water. Scorpions prefer to stay hidden, but may sting if they feel threatened by humans or pets.
If you suspect scorpions on your property, use this guide for tips on inspecting your home and yard. Unsure if what you found is a scorpion? Check out our guide on identifying scorpions.
Inspect Your Yard for Scorpions
Before inspecting your yard for scorpions, it’s a good idea to wear long sleeves, long pants, and thick work gloves to minimize the risk of being stung if you encounter one.
Scorpions are rarely seen wandering across the yard during the day, as they tend to hide from the daylight. To check for scorpions, focus on the following areas in your yard where they might be hiding:
- Flower beds
- Mulch piles
- Under wood chips or pine straw
- Rock walls, brick walls, retaining walls, and cross-tie walls
- Coiled garden hoses
- Beneath rocks
- Inside or under any decorative items in the lawn
- Cracks and crevices in the foundation
Inspect Your Home for Scorpions
Scorpions may enter your home in search of food and water. When inspecting your house, be sure to check the following places:
- Inside garages
- Closets
- Attics
- Storage areas
- Piles of clothing that have been left undisturbed for a while
- Shoes
- Bedding, especially in rooms that are rarely used
- Curtains
- Beneath furniture
Search at Night
Since scorpions are nocturnal, they tend to hide during the day and come out at night to hunt. Their bodies glow blue under ultraviolet light, making them easier to spot in the dark.
To locate scorpions around your home, use the Scorpion UV Flashlight from our scorpion control kit.
You are more likely to find scorpions at night than during the day.
Recommended Products
If you've found scorpions, discover how to handle the infestation on your own in our guide on how to get rid of scorpions. Click the right arrow below to learn more.
Scorpion Treatment Guide
How to Eliminate Scorpions
Scorpions are nocturnal creatures that hide during the day and come out at night in search of food and water. While they usually avoid human contact, they may sting if provoked.
This guide will walk you through how to handle scorpion treatment on your own.
Step1 Treating for Scorpions
To reduce the likelihood of scorpions entering your home, it's important to make your property less appealing to them. Scorpions can be difficult to eliminate directly unless you encounter them, so it's more effective to target the insects they prey on, such as crickets and spiders. If scorpions can't find food sources, they're less likely to stay.
DoMyOwn offers a comprehensive Scorpion Control Kit, which includes all the necessary products for treating your home and yard. You can purchase the kit here. Continue reading to learn how to use each product effectively.
Products we recommend for Step 1
Step1.1 Locate Scorpions with a UV Flashlight
Use the Scorpion UV Flashlight provided in the kit to detect scorpions in dark areas around and inside your home. For more detailed guidance on where to search for scorpions, refer to our Scorpion Inspection Guide.
Step1.2 Apply Insecticide Outdoors
To treat your property for scorpions, choose an insecticide that is labeled for scorpions and their food sources, such as Demand CS. Other suitable options include Onslaught FastCap and Demon WP.
Mix the insecticide with water in a sprayer according to the product's label instructions. After adding the appropriate amount of insecticide and water to the sprayer, secure the cap and shake well to ensure the solution is properly mixed.
Always wear long sleeves and gloves when handling and applying insecticides.
Use the prepared insecticide mixture to create a protective barrier around the foundation of your home or structure. Refer to the product label to know how high and how far around the foundation you can spray. Typically, you can apply the solution up to 3 feet up the building and 4-10 feet outward from the foundation's base.
Watch the video below for a step-by-step guide on how to apply the barrier treatment.
Products we recommend for Step 1.2
Step1.3 Apply Insecticide Indoors
To address a scorpion infestation inside your home or office, start by applying an insecticide. Select a product specifically labeled for scorpions and safe for indoor use, such as Demand CS, and mix it in a sprayer according to the instructions from Step 1B. Next, focus on treating the following areas:
- Room corners
- Under appliances
- Behind toilets
- Beneath sinks
- Along walls and corners in garages and basements
- Around door and window frames
- In cracks and crevices
Avoid broad spraying; instead, target cracks, crevices, and voids where scorpions might be hiding. Refer to the insecticide label for guidelines on reapplication frequency. High-temperature areas (90°F and above) and locations with direct sunlight may need more frequent treatments compared to shaded, cooler spots.
If you spot a live scorpion indoors, you can spray it directly with insecticide. If you plan to release the scorpion outside, wear thick work gloves and use a container to safely transport it, preventing any risk of stings.
Step1.4 Use Glue Traps to Monitor Scorpion Activity
Glue traps are an effective method for capturing scorpions and their prey, while also helping you track the progress of your treatment. As you apply your treatment, you should notice fewer insects and scorpions on the traps. If activity persists after 21 days, repeat Steps 1B and 1C.
Position the glue traps in areas such as garages, closets, and locations where scorpions have been seen.
Products we recommend for Step 1.4
Step2 (Optional) Use Insecticide Dust for Hard-to-Reach Areas
In addition to applying an insecticide spray, you can treat hard-to-reach areas in your home or structure with insecticide dust, such as Delta Dust. Insecticide dust offers long-lasting protection and is effective in difficult-to-access spots, but it works more slowly, so it should be used alongside a liquid insecticide. Some dusts are waterproof, meaning they don’t need to be reapplied after rain or snow. Check the label for reapplication instructions.
Fill a hand duster halfway with insecticide dust designed for scorpions. Apply the dust to the following areas:
- Inside outlets
- Behind baseboards
- Inside cabinets
- In cracks and crevices
- In wall voids
Products we recommend for Step 2
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If you're uncertain whether you have scorpions, refer to our guide on identifying scorpions before proceeding with treatment. After treating for scorpions, follow our tips on how to prevent future infestations and keep scorpions away from your home.
Scorpion Prevention Guide
How to Keep Scorpions Away from Your Home and Yard
If you're prone to scorpions, it's important to understand that they only enter your yard or home in search of food, such as spiders and crickets. The most effective way to keep scorpions away is by eliminating their food sources in your home, yard, or building.
Read through our guide below to learn how to prevent and control scorpions.
Maintain Your Yard
General pest prevention is essential, particularly if you're prone to scorpion, spider, or cricket infestations. Regular yard maintenance makes your property less inviting to scorpions and their prey, reducing the likelihood of stings.
When performing yard care and pest control, always wear long sleeves, long pants, and thick gloves to protect yourself in case of an encounter with a scorpion.
Outdoor Lawn Maintenance Tips:
- Eliminate wood piles
- Move mulch and pine straw at least 6 inches away from the home’s foundation
- Apply weather stripping to doors and windows
- Place small screen pieces in weep holes to block scorpions from entering the home
Watch the video below for additional general pest prevention tips.
What is Integrated Pest Management? (IPM)
Inspect Clothing Before Wearing
If you live in an area prone to scorpions and have seen them around your property, take extra precautions to prevent stings:
- Shake out clothing before wearing it, especially if it has been left on the floor or in piles
- Check the insides of shoes before wearing
- Inspect gloves before putting them on
We hope this guide to scorpions has been helpful. If you're unsure whether you've seen a scorpion, refer to our guide on how to identify scorpions. Our guide on where scorpions hide will assist you in locating a potential infestation in your home, and our treatment guide will show you how to handle scorpion control on your own.
