These freaky arachnids (same family as spiders!) are having a moment in Austin.

This year we’ve received more calls than usual about scorpions being seen inside Austin-area homes. So what’s going on?

Scorpions In Austin

Scorpions usually stay outside where they hunt for insects and food, but they can get riled up by the weather or predators and head indoors for protection.

Just like with other pests if the weather is extreme, you may see them more often. That means if it’s too cold, raining a lot or — and stop us if this sounds familiar — too hot, they may look for a new place to hang out.

Unfortunately, that cool new place could be your house.

Even more unfortunately, they can hang out for a long time. Like any uninvited guest, they don’t get the hint that you don’t want them around.

Scorpions have a really slow metabolism, so for months at a time they can stay in the same spot without eating, or even moving! That means even with a detailed pest control service, you could still see them indoors a few months afterwards simply because they were playing hide-and-go-seek at a whole ‘nother level.

So prevention is a great idea regarding scorpions.

Scorpion Prevention

There are some easy steps to take to help keep scorpions out:

• Remove all trash, wood piles, stones, bricks or any other debris near the house. Scorpions love these hidden areas as a safe place to nest or hide in between hunting for food. Always wear long sleeve and thick gloves and try to use shovels or other equipment to remove them!
• Mow the lawn regularly and keep it cut short — especially nearest the home. Also trim bushes and remove any tree branches that touch or hang far over the structure. Anything touching or hanging on the structure provides an easy path to the roof and inside.
• Don’t bring firewood inside the home to store it. Don’t store firewood up next to the house either. Keep it elevated in a firewood stand if you must.
• Inspect and replace weather-stripping around all doors and windows. If you can see outdoor light coming in around the edges then it is an entry point. Get all the way down there for a “bug’s eye view” of it. You may be surprised.
• Plug weep holes around the foundation with aluminum mesh or window screen material. This will block access to the interior for scorpions and other pests, but allow the walls of the house to still “breathe” as needed and emit moisture. Don’t use steel wool! It rusts and will drip down the wall and make an ugly mess along your foundation.
• Use sealant around roof eaves, pipes, and any other cracks on the structure.
• Keep window screens in good repair & make sure they fit tightly in the window frame.

Scorpion Pest Control Treatment

Scorpions are one of the more difficult pests to treat. They hide in walls and other hard to reach areas and are just tough you-know-whats to begin with!

We can help you keep scorpions out with our scorpion treatment program which includes some of the preventive techniques above, as well as a thorough treatment indoor and out to kill existing or encroaching scorpions. The service helps remove other insects as well, which takes away a scorpion’s food supply and acts as a nice double-whammy.

Call us at 512-443-0123 or fill out our pest control form for a free quote!