Frisco's Most Unwanted Pest: Scorpions
Scorpions aren't just one of Frisco's most unwanted pests; they can also be quite mysterious. Here's what Frisco homeowners should know about scorpions, including the sounds they make, their nesting habits, the signs of scorpions in Frisco, and the best way to get rid of scorpions with pest control in Frisco.
Ahh! I Saw A Scorpion On My Frisco Property
Scorpions are arguably the scariest pests in the southern region of the United States. Scorpion stings can be painful, with some species delivering venom that can kill humans. The long-tailed arachnids can also cause damage to your home's foundation and interior walls when they burrow into them looking for food or nesting grounds. They also carry diseases and mites that spread bacterial infections, which require medical care if contracted by humans or pets. Protect your family from scorpion stings through proactive pest control in Frisco.
Why Scorpions Invade Frisco Properties
There are over 1500 different kinds of scorpions worldwide, with 90 species calling the US home. These nocturnal pests try to minimize human contact as much as possible. So why would they infest your Frisco home? Here are some common reasons:
1. Search For Food
Scorpions are insectivorous, feeding on spiders, roaches, beetles, and other insects. An insect infestation within your property can provide an ample food supply that lures the dangerous scorpions. Controlling pest infestations can minimize the risk of attracting the stinging arachnids to your Frisco home.
2. Water And Moisture
Scorpions can go for months without food but die without a constant water supply. Stagnant pools or leaky faucets in your exteriors can serve as an invitation for the dangerous pest. Leaks in your basement and crawl spaces can attract scorpions. Fixing your plumbing is an effective scorpion control measure.
3. Gaps And Holes
Most types of scorpions can squeeze through crevices that are 1/8" thin, approximately the thickness of a credit card. Cracks in your foundation or exterior fascia can attract these stinging pests to make a nest within your home. Sealing the gaps in your home is one of the best ways to get rid of scorpions.
4. Harborage Spots
Scorpions prefer to nest in dark and damp sections of the home. House clutter and untended lawns can provide the perfect cover for the arachnids to hide. Rocks, tree stumps, and woodpiles within your property can also provide shaded areas that the critters can call home.
Do Scorpions Make Any Sound?
Some pests might make sounds that alert you of their presence, but are scorpions one of them? Not all scorpions make noise, but some species are able to produce a hissing sound by rubbing their body parts together.
Scorpions may hiss before they sting, but since not all scorpions can do this, you can't rely on these critters to give a warning – you'll have to use your eyes to watch out for them.
Do scorpions make scratching noises in your walls or home? While some pests, like rodents, produce scratching or squeaking noises when they move around your home, scorpions aren't one of them. Like other arachnids, scorpions crawl quietly, and you'll likely only hear them moving about if they step on a leaf or a similar object.
Do Scorpions Make Nests?
Some pests like to nest or group together, especially when they infest your home. However, scorpions are unlikely to nest together and prefer to live in isolation. If you find an infestation of scorpions near your home, it's usually for one of two reasons – either you're attracting them to your home, or there are limited nesting areas.
Most of the time, scorpions prefer to spend their time in dark, isolated areas, such as rocks, leaf piles, debris, shoes, or even in your closet. They may wander around to find a food or water source, but you're more likely to find them resting.
Can scorpions climb? While they can't climb on smooth glass, scorpions are very good climbers. They have tiny pincers on the ends of their legs and feet, which allow them to grip surfaces more tightly. When they are looking for a place to rest, scorpions may sometimes climb bushes, trees, or even walls in your home.
How Bad Is It To Have Scorpions In My Yard?
Scorpions feed on insects and can serve as excellent bio-control animals for invasive bugs. However, you need to be careful about scorpions overrunning your yard. Scorpions will strike their attackers with a venomous stinger at the end of their tail if they feel threatened or cornered.
The venom is powerful enough to immobilize smaller prey and even defend against small mammals and snakes. To humans, the sting can be painful with significant swelling. Children and adults with weaker immune systems are severely affected, the venom becoming fatal.
Signs Of A Scorpion Infestation
While it's possible for a single scorpion to wander onto your property when looking for a place to rest, you can also have an infestation – so, how do you tell the difference? Here are some of the biggest signs that you've got a scorpion infestation on your Frisco property:
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You Have Other Insect Infestations: One of the biggest attractions for scorpions is food, and they primarily eat small bugs and insects. If your Frisco home is also suffering from an influx of too many flies, beetles, cockroaches, or other bugs, you could also attract other scorpions to make your home into theirs.
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Your Home Is Shady And Humid: As mentioned above, scorpions like dark, isolated areas for their resting time, especially if they're also moist or humid. If you have a humid basement or a shady yard, you're more likely to deal with scorpions. Gardens with rocks, trees, or bushes can also provide shady refuge for these pests.
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You Have Citrus Trees And Plants: Many scorpions, including bark scorpions, are fond of citrus plants and trees. Citrus plants have plenty of dark, shady areas, so you shouldn't be surprised if scorpions try to take up residence in your trees. Citrus trees can also be a popular hiding spot because they naturally attract other insects, so these plants can seem like an all-you-can-eat buffet for scorpions.
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You See Scorpions: Perhaps the most significant indicator of a scorpion infestation is that you regularly see scorpions. While seeing a scorpion from time to time is nothing to worry about, constantly finding these critters around your property can indicate a bigger problem that requires professional help.
If you have more than the occasional scorpion wandering onto your property, it's time to do something about it.
Easy & Effective Scorpion Control Tips
The best way to protect your family members from scorpion stings is to minimize their numbers within your property. Here are six effective scorpion control tips for your Frisco home:
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Eliminate their food source through proper insect control measures.
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Create an insecticide barrier to deter the spiders from your property.
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Clear the area surrounding your home of debris, tree stumps, and rocks.
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Seal any cracks within your foundation and siding that could allow scorpions into your home.
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Maintain your lawn, properly cutting and watering the grass.
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Seek professional help with chemical treatments.
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Eliminate any sources of standing water that could attract other pests, like mosquitoes.
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Clear brush, debris, and woodpiles from the immediate perimeter of your home.
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Store wood and compost piles at least 30 feet away from your home.
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Turn off outdoor lights in the later afternoon that attract flies, mosquitoes, and crickets that scorpions feed on.
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Put a professional pest management program in place to minimize the presence of other pests that scorpions prey on.
Eliminating the food, water, and harborage sites is an effective way to deter the scorpions from invading your family.
Ultimately, scorpions are predators, and they’re going to go where the food is. Since scorpions feed on insects and other small pests, that means that the best way to make your home unappealing to scorpions is to remove the potential food sources they’re preying on. For that, the best step is to contact Adams Exterminating Company for professional residential pest management services.
What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Scorpions?
While you can use the tips above to help prevent scorpions, there's one truly effective way to deal with an existing scorpion problem: by calling us at Adams Exterminating Company. Our reliable, effective treatments can return your home to a scorpion-free zone.
Is your fear of scorpions holding you back from proper bug treatment? Adams Exterminating Company takes out the worry by providing effective residential pest control services to Frisco homeowners.
If you suspect you've got a scorpion problem or might be attracting them to your house in Frisco, don't wait – call us today at Adams Exterminating Company for more information about how our scorpion control works or to schedule an inspection.
Our experts can carry out extensive inspections to identify the critter’s hiding spots. We will recommend the right traps and treatment products to eliminate all the scorpions from your property. Call us today to learn to discuss your scorpion problem and how we can solve it for you.