This morning, I went out to the kitchen and noticed Rebekah asleep on the couch..which she normally doesn't do. She has a very nice bedroom out in our office. It turns out that she got bit by a scorpion which was in her bed! That's the second time this week! According to all I have read..they want water and cooler temperatures. Pesticides don't work.
But cats, chickens, and caulking all help. Also, we need to send out the boys with a UV light to kill as many as they can find around the outside of our office one night soon for a hunting session. Apparently they glow in the dark very nicely. Can you believe these guys live at least seven years! No wonder they are so hardy and difficult to remove. If it's not one thing--it's another! Have you had to deal with this?
I've listed the best response I read to someone's question about what to do in case you are battling this problem too.
Marmalade supervising the building of the office three years ago.
Apparently cats and chickens are the best solution. Rebekah will be having Midnight sleep in her room from now on. She's quite the huntress. Tim said he would help me get the barn coop secure from predators and then we can get some more chickens to help keep the scorpion population down. It's no surprise that we haven't had this problem for most of the time we've lived here. The chickens have been gone for a year though. Looks like we need more!
Our unfinished office has a lot of seams that need to be caulked. Looks like I'm not done with renovation projects yet. We are going to have to make time for this project or Rebekah will not be safe. Hate to see her sleeping on a couch semi-permanently but I wouldn't want to sleep in her bed either! Hope these ideas help you. :o) I'll let you know how the 'hunt' goes...and the caulking!
Posted by
stown6654 8b (
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Thu, Jun 10, 04 at 16:42
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Apparently, scorpions are nocturnal, so that explains why we would almost never find them when we were searching around, unless we lifted up a piece of carpeting, or moved a planter. They usually hide during the day. Apparently, MOST scorpions found in the USA are not much more venemous than a bee sting, but for those that are highly allergic to bee stings etc, it can be a real problem.
Getting stung apparently hurts like heck. I wear boots to work even though they are hot, but then we have rattlesnakes too.
- I have read that scorpions can be located at night with a black light. I have not tried this, but apparently they "glow" in blacklight.
- Live births is correct, they do not lay eggs.
- Besides chickens, I am told peacocks will keep their numbers down.
- A can of Raid will only make them mad...lol.
- This past year we cleared much debris, such as old piles of lumber, and general junk from around the buildings. We also went on a serious spraying program.
- This has helped a lot, only two so far this year. The spraying has helped to clear out other insects that might be food, such as crickets and cockroaches.
- Clearing debris I think has been the most help, chased them away from the buildings. Removing places for them to hide and nest.
- I read they actually can live 12 to 15 years. Judging by the size of some we have found, I can believe that.
- I have never found one in a bathtub, shower, or sink. I do not know why they come inside, but I almost always find them smack dab in the middle of a room.
- I poked a broom at one and he acturally grabbed the bristles with his pinchers. Very aggressive. I tossed him fifty feet with the broom...lol. The I whacked him until dead. As long as they stay out in the desert they're OK with me, it's their territory, but when they come in the building they are mine!
- Personally, I am glad they are so big, the smaller ones are harder to see, our variety is sort of transparent yellow.
- Of course, this is just my experience, all I can say is watch where you step, and ALWAYS check your shoes.
Sharon
Well, I hope this post helps those of you in rural locations..or Arizona apparently. :o)
PS. For some reason this post has tons of hits. I just want you to know that I finally called a pest control person. He said that scorpians usually live NEAR your house, not in it. We had a waterfall with lots of cracks and crevices a few feet from the house. Because the pond pump was broken, they moved in and set up camp.
They don't like water, so once we got the pump fixed, and he did a professional treatment, we haven't seen any scorpians at all. They like to live next to your house in warm dry places.. leaves, wood piles etc.
We finally got professional help and it seems to be working beautifully! No scorpians so far this year.
Happy Homemaking!
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He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock.
Deuteronomy 8:15'
10 comments
Wow, you are a brave lady, I think I would probably have a heart attack if one of those were in my house
Donna..oh yeah girl..those suckers live here also!!This year has been the worst.7 years ago we had the house professionaly sprayed..the guy sprayed the attic..which surprised me..he said that is where the scorpions hang out..he was right..I bet he killed over 200..they were falling into the light globes..off the ceiling..ect.We need to spray again..just a little tight on funds. Our daughter is now allergic to them..she has to carry a epi pen with her.
Good luck and we do understand!!
Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham
ICK!! I wonder if Debra or Tammy would have some essential oil ideas for keeping them at bay until your chickens grow to scorpion catching size? Tell Rebekah I'd be cuddling with Midnight too! My sis had her baby on Monday--so exciting. I look forward to hearing about your new grandbaby soon!
Yikes!!! I'm glad that we don't have the problem here.
Move to Canada, problem solved ;)
Oh my goodness. Hope she's okay. I didn't know we had scorpions in this area. I thought it was just in Austin.
Trudy
www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
Oh my goodness, I would flip out if we had them here! LOL You should see me with caterpillars, I'm not an insect fan, LOL Good luck, I don't envy that problem at all!!! LOL
Blessings,
Jill
I am so sorry to hear that she got bit. We had a small problem with scorpions here in GA. You can actually kill scorpions with an insecticide called cy-kick. I posted about my experience using it on my blog www.livefrei.com/best-insecticide I hope you were able to get rid of them. Good luck!
We live in the South, wooded area, have killed 5 in house. if I'm not mistaken someone said they bite, I think they sting.
we have them in utah to...when we built our log home they were all over, guess we were on their territory & they tried to live in the house, killed about 30 the first year...one was in bed with us...we spray special chemicals & it does work, just need to spray all around the inside/outside few times a month in the summer...they do glow with a blacklight...
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