One of the many reasons to live in Chandler is that we can enjoy the outdoors year-round. Rarely do we have to wear a winter coat. In fact, we experience sunshine more days out of the year than most places in the United States. Because of our hot, dry climate, we can relax in the hammock, work in the garden, and take long strolls through the yard. However, living in our Arizona paradise does have a few drawbacks, and one of them is scorpions.
Perhaps you found this article because you’ve had one too many encounters with these stinging arachnids on your property. Maybe you are tired of feeling trapped inside your home because your yard these eight-legged creatures infest your lawn. Or, you went into the attic to retrieve a box of old photos to enjoy an evening of reminiscing, only to find scorpions beneath your belongings.
If you have scorpions on your property, you need from Green Home Pest Control. We recognize the delicate balance between protecting the environment and providing our community with pest-free homes. Therefore, we use effective eco-minded products that are safe for pets and children. We also recognize that people are busy, so we work with your schedule and honor your time by arriving on time and efficiently performing the necessary treatments to eradicate the scorpions in and around your Chandler home. When you work with us, you will quickly discover why we are a top-rated company.
Understanding The Common Scorpion
Eradicating scorpions begins with understanding the creatures infesting your property. Scorpions are not insects but, like spiders, they belong to the arachnid class. Animals in this classification have eight legs, a two-part body (cephalothorax and the abdomen), and two additional appendages for feeding, defense, and reproduction. Unlike insects, arachnids do not have wings or antennae. Because they are anthropods, scorpions have an external skeleton (exoskeleton) that they must shed when they progress through their growth stages.
Now that we know the basic features let’s look at habits and behaviors. Scorpions live in dry climates, like Chandler. They create burrows underneath rocks, logs, and debris, where they shelter from the heat and sun during the day and wait for prey at night. Scorpions prefer to live outdoors; however, long, dry seasons often force them to search for water which may lead them to invade homes where they often find shelter in crawlspaces and attics.
Scorpions do not have good eyesight; instead, they rely on ground vibrations to detect nearby insects. Cockroaches and crickets are a favorite meal for scorpions, but they also consume spiders, centipedes, other scorpions, and small animals. When a scorpion senses vibration from a potential prey, it quickly jumps on its victim and grabs it with its pinchers. Next, it uses its pincher-like chelicerae, maxillae, and coxae to tear its victim apart. The scorpion coats the victim with digestive juices from its mouth to facilitate easier digestion and breakdown. These chemicals help dissolve the prey’s body allowing the scorpion to consume it. If its victim is active or too big to hold with its chelicerae, the scorpion subdues it by stinging it and injecting venom to paralyze it. This venom consists of neurotoxins, peptides, enzymes, and other compounds.
Now that we have a description and knowledge of habits and behaviors let’s look at the species that invade homes in Chandler. We find the following type of :
- Arizona bark scorpion
- Arizona striped-tail scorpion
- Arizona giant hairy scorpion
- Yellow ground scorpion
have a 2 to 3-inch pale yellow body with horizontal dark stripes and a long slender tail, which is slightly darker in color. If you use a UV light at night, Arizona bark scorpions appear to glow with a bluish hue making them easy to find in the yard or house.
Arizona striped-tail scorpions are similar in body length to bark scorpions but have bulkier pedipalps and a tail outlined by dark lines. (pedipalps are the finger-like appendages at the end of their claws.)
As its name suggests, the Arizona giant hairy scorpion has a much larger, darker 5-inch body. These scorpions have pale sides and cream-colored appendages. Due to their size and the power of their pedipalps, they feed not only on insects but lizards and small mammals.
Yellow ground scorpions have a 2 to 3-inch light tan to brownish body that is enlarged in the middle and tapered at the end. Their tails are bulkier than other scorpion species. They feed on insects and other scorpions.
Green Home Pest Control can remove the different types of scorpions infesting Chandler properties. We have the tools, expertise, and experience to rid your home and lawn of these stinging creatures.
Health Risks Of Scorpion Infestations
Scorpions are distinguishable by the multi-segmented stinger protruding from the rear of their abdomen. Although scorpions primarily feast on insects, they sometimes consume lizards, snakes, and rodents. In the case of larger animals, the scorpions use their stinger to inject venom into their prey to paralyze it so they can rip it apart with their powerful jaws.
Scorpions are aggressive toward prey, but they do not attack humans—a scorpion stings people only when they feel threatened. For example, if you lift a log and invade a scorpion’s burrow, it may sting in self-defense, or if you accidentally step on a scorpion while walking in the yard, it may sting.
All Arizona scorpion species in Chandler sting, but they do not all affect humans the same way. A sting from an Arizona striped-tail, Arizona giant hairy or yellow ground scorpion will produce a sensation and localized swelling similar to a bee sting that may last a few days. However, those with venom sensitivity may experience anaphylactic shock. Although a sting from these three scorpion species does not usually require immediate medical attention, a wound inflicted by the Arizona bark scorpion may have a different result.
Arizona bark scorpions are the most dangerous species in the country and, unfortunately, are the most abundant species in Arizona. A sting from one of these scorpions may cause slurred speech, restlessness, staggering, twitches, cramping, and breathing difficulting; these symptoms may last up to two days. Children and the elder are more susceptible to these effects and should seek immediate medical care if stung to prevent further complications.
To avoid scorpion stings, do not poke fingers or toes beneath rocks, logs, or crevices. If you have an outdoor sandbox, thoroughly rake through the sand before allowing children to play in it. Always wear shoes outdoors, especially around moist areas (i.e., swimming pools, ponds, etc.). If you have encountered scorpions inside your house, inspect your clothing and shoes before wearing them, and check bed linens before crawling into bed at night. Wear thick gloves when moving boxes or other items in the garage, basement, or attic to avoid stings. If you experience a sting from a scorpion other than the Arizona bark scorpion, wash the area with soapy water, apply ice to the wound site, and remain calm.
The best way to kill scorpions is to use Green Home Pest Control. Let our technicians , and don’t risk a scorpion sting.
Identify And Remove Factors That Attract Scorpions
If you have scorpions on your property or home, but a neighbor or a nearby Arizona relative enjoys a scorpion-free house, you may wonder why you have a problem. Scorpions may be on your property due to the following:
- Fruit trees
- Sandboxes
- Rocks, logs, wood piles, and other debris in the yard.
- Poorly ventilated humid crawl spaces or attics
- Leaky pipes and plumbing fixtures
- Poorly draining air conditioning units
- High insect concentrations
Remove debris, landscaping materials, trash, and sandboxes from your property. If you burn firewood, elevate it and move it away from the house. Fruit and palm trees are an attractant to scorpions. Scorpions like palm trees because they can burrow beneath the loose bark, and the fallen fruit from citrus trees provides them free meals.
Although scorpions are not prone to invading homes, they will invade homes for the following reasons; if you live in a new house built on a former scorpion habitat or if they need water and shelter due to an unseasonably long dry period. When they enter a home, they settle in moist areas. Poorly ventilated crawl spaces, basements, or attics are a scorpion favorite because these areas not only have moisture but often have cardboard boxes, stacks of old magazines, and other debris piles that provide convenient hiding places. Because scorpions are night creatures, they like the darkness of these areas.
If you investigate for scorpions, you may have a higher concentration underneath the laundry room, kitchen, or bathroom since these areas are prone to leaking plumbing fixtures. Ensure that the condenser of your air conditioner unit is properly draining and not causing a water buildup in the area.
We’ve noted that scorpions enjoy eating various insects, so when there is an insect infestation inside the home, scorpions enter the house to pursue their prey. Thus, a group of scorpions in your Chandler home may be there because you have cockroaches, crickets, or other insect species infesting your home.
Scorpions enter Chandler homes through foundation cracks, holes in window and door screens, and gaps underneath exterior doors. Seal the foundation, roofline cracks, and incoming pipes and wires gaps with caulk to prevent scorpions from entering the crawl space or attic. Install door sweeps and repair holes in the screens. Since scorpions also use tree branches and shrubs as a bridge to the house, keep these pruned away from the structure.
When you partner with Green Home Pest Control for , our trained technicians will identify additional attractants specific to your locations. We can also present more exclusion options to keep scorpions out of your house.
The Secret To Total Scorpion Control
The best way to avoid injuries from dangerous scorpions is to use Green Home Pest Control. When you contact us and explain your situation, we will dispatch a highly-trained, background-checked, technician to inspect your property. Our experience technician will investigate for attractants, entry points, and hot spots. We will identify the scorpion species on your property to develop a treatment strategy targeting that particular type of scorpion.
We share the desire to be sensitive to our environment, so we use only EPA-approved products with microencapsulated technology because these products have proven effective against scorpions.
Green Home Pest Control uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions to stop scorpions. This approach focuses not only on the elimination of the current infestation but also on the prevention of future scorpion problems.
Scorpions are a part of the environment in Arizona because of our hot, dry climate. Since no one can eliminate every scorpion in our state (nor should they since scorpions have a role in our ecosystem), the best thing we can do is to deter them from entering our homes and property.
In addition to our , we also offer a scorpion sealing service. If scorpions have invaded your yard and your house, you need this layer of protection. When you hire us for scorpion sealing, our technician will create barriers to your home’s interior with environmentally-safe products by sealing all cracks, gaps, and holes that may provide access for scorpions into your house. We will also use weather-stripping-like material to close off access to scorpions through exterior doors. Finally, we will focus on your garage to seal off areas to prevent scorpion intrusions.
We conduct our treatment and sealing programs with total transparency. If our technician detects additional attractants beyond our control (i.e., poor ventilation in the crawl space or attic, leaking plumbing fixtures, etc.), we will point them out to you. Furthermore, our technician will walk through our process with you and show you where we are treating and sealing.
Contact Green Home Pest Control today to learn about our guarantees and get your free, no-obligation estimate. You no longer need to worry about scorpions when you partner with us.
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