Scorpion sightings aren’t rare here in South Texas. Most scorpions in South Texas aren’t life-threatening; their stinger can still cause intense pain, similar to a bee sting, and in rare cases, even an allergic reaction.
If you or your kids are ever stung, watch for symptoms like swelling, numbness, or trouble breathing, and don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.
But more importantly, let’s talk about how to keep these arachnids out of your San Antonio home in the first place.
Key Takeaways
- Small cracks and poor weather stripping let scorpions into your home, especially in older San Antonio neighborhoods.
- Scorpions hide under wood piles, rocks, and thick plants, so clean landscaping makes your yard less inviting.
- Bugs like crickets and cockroaches attract scorpions indoors, so removing their food source helps stop infestations.
- Professional pest control from Reliant is the best way to handle scorpions in San Antonio and South Texas homes.
Seal Up Entry Points Before Summer Hits
Scorpions are sneaky. They crawl into homes through tiny crevices and gaps you might not even notice, especially in older houses around neighborhoods like Alamo Heights and Terrell Hills.
These pests can flatten their bodies and squeeze through spaces as thin as a credit card. You’ll want to inspect the entry points around your foundation, pipes, and baseboards.
Don’t forget to check the weather stripping around doors and windows, too. Fixing these weak spots is a key part of scorpion control.
Address Landscaping Issues That Attract Scorpions
Scorpions in Texas love the shade and moisture found under wood piles, rocks, and thick vegetation. These are their favorite hiding spots during the day.
If your landscaping includes stacked stone, mulch, or untrimmed shrubs, especially near the home’s perimeter, you could be rolling out the welcome mat for a scorpion infestation.
For homeowners in San Antonio, a bit of clean-up goes a long way toward keeping these critters from moving in.
Eliminate Their Food Sources
The striped bark scorpion isn’t just hanging around for fun. They’re following food.
Their favorite snacks? Crickets, cockroaches, and even centipedes.
If you’ve got other pests in your home, you’re providing an all-you-can-eat buffet. And where there’s prey, predators like scorpions won’t be far behind.
If you’re seeing scorpions and other bugs like bed bugs or roaches, it’s time to talk to a pro about effective pest control that gets to the root of the problem.
Adjust Outdoor Lighting to Deter Bugs (and Scorpions)
Most folks don’t realize it, but your porch light could be attracting more than just moths. Bright white lights cause bugs to fly in circles because of how their eyes react to light, not because they like it.
Based on recent research using motion tracking technology, this confusion keeps them stuck near the light, which makes them an easy meal for hungry scorpions.
Switch to warm-toned or yellow sodium vapor lights to reduce insect activity, and that’s a smart prevention tip for cutting down on unwanted guests like scorpions.
Use Indoor Traps to Pinpoint Activity
If scorpions are already sneaking into your San Antonio home, sticky traps can help you pinpoint where they’re most active. It’s not uncommon to find them in dark, quiet places like garages, under sinks, behind toilets, or in closets.
These traps also catch prey like crickets, so they double as a small-scale form of pest control.
Just remember, if you’re catching more than one or two scorpions a week, you may be dealing with a full-blown scorpion infestation.
DIY Won’t Fix a Scorpion Problem
Here in Texas, we’ve got more than one species of scorpions, including the rarely-seen but dangerous Arizona bark scorpion.
While the striped bark scorpion is the most common in San Antonio, its sting can still cause serious allergic reactions like hives, swelling, or even anaphylactic shock, according to a medical review of reported cases.
Over-the-counter sprays might kill one or two scorpions, but they won’t resolve the underlying issue. For large or persistent problems, DIY solutions like bleach and diatomaceous earth won’t work.
Call in pest control services that understand local scorpion behavior.
Get Professional Help from Reliant
When it comes to scorpions in San Antonio, you don’t want to mess around. Whether you’ve had a run-in with a stinger, found one hiding near your kids’ toys, or are just tired of worrying about nighttime surprises, we’ve got your back.
At Reliant Pest Management, we provide effective pest control tailored to Texas homes. Our team doesn’t just treat what’s visible. We get to the root of the issue by sealing entry points, removing hiding spots, and treating both scorpions and their food sources.
If you live in Houston, Central Texas, or right here in San Antonio, we’re just a call away.
Schedule your first service today and let our local experts make your home scorpion-free.Â