Scorpion Control In Austin Should Not Be Taken Lightly

Of all the arachnids people learn to live alongside, scorpions seem to strike the most fear, and it is not hard to see why. The pincers, the armored body, the tail held ready overhead: one glance is enough to put anyone on alert. The live version of that fear is even backed by research; a study conducted by the University of California at Riverside found people are more afraid of scorpions than spiders. With summer here, which is exactly when scorpions are most active, there is no better time to learn what you are dealing with and how to keep them off your property.

Types Of Scorpions

Roughly 2,000 scorpion species live worldwide, and only a few dozen of them carry venom powerful enough to seriously threaten a human. Texas is home to around 20 species a resident could conceivably encounter, though only a handful turn up with any regularity:

• Striped bark scorpion
• Lesser stripetail scorpion
• Lindo scorpion
• Florida bark scorpion
• Giant hairy scorpion
• Straight-faced solifugid (a scorpion look-alike that is not a true scorpion, but gets reported as one constantly)
• Texas cave scorpion

Around Austin specifically, the field narrows to two: the striped bark scorpion and the Texas cave scorpion. Of those, the striped bark scorpion is the one with the home-invasion habit, and it accounts for nearly every scorpion call we run. If either one is showing up in or around your house, it is a good time to get local scorpion control involved.

Don’t Accidentally Attract Scorpions

As with most pests, the goal is to make your property as impenetrable and uninviting as possible. Scorpions end up where the food, water, and cover are, so removing those is the work. Five steps to take:

1. Get rid of standing water. Eliminate it in and around the property; scorpions and their prey both need to drink.
2. Seal holes, cracks, and crevices. Concentrate on the classic insect entry points around windows and doors.
3. Inspect the dark places regularly. Closets, cabinets, and other low-light areas are exactly where scorpions settle. Check them on a routine.
4. Clear the yard. Remove debris and brush, and keep woodpiles at least 20 feet from the house.
5. Cut off the food supply. Scorpions follow the insects they eat, crickets especially. Fewer prey insects means fewer scorpions.

If your property has already rolled out the welcome mat without you realizing it, get in touch and we will help you roll it back up.

Six Facts About Scorpions You Probably Didn’t Know

For all the fear they generate, many scorpion species are less dangerous than their looks suggest, and the animals themselves are full of surprises. Six worth repeating:

1. They dance before mating. A courting pair performs a ritual back-and-forth before anything else happens.
2. They give birth to live young. No external eggs; the offspring arrive fully formed.
3. They can go up to a year without a meal. Patience is their superpower.
4. They meter their venom. A scorpion can control how much it releases with each sting.
5. They predate the dinosaurs. Scorpions have been around more than 420 million years.
6. Their venom has medical promise. Some species carry chemical compounds being studied for treating certain cancers.

One more for the road: baby scorpions commonly ride on their mother’s back for an extended stretch, sometimes up to two years, while she kills prey to feed them. Family values, scorpion style.

Total Scorpion Control For Austin Residents

At Accurate Termite and Pest Control, we deliver treatments that actually clear scorpions out of homes, offices, and every property type in between. We have been at it in Central Texas for over 25 years, long enough that customers call our experienced technicians scorpion specialists, and every plan is tailored to the specific property rather than pulled off a shelf.

Our techs have the training to make sure the scorpion problem that brought you here does not come back. Contact us today for your free estimate or call (512) 267-0812.