How to Get Rid of Scorpions
If you’re dealing with a scorpion infestation, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will teach you how to get rid of scorpions, identify common types, and use the best scorpion pest control products to protect your home. Whether you prefer professional treatments or DIY scorpion pest control, following these steps will help you take back your space.
December 5, 2025
What is Scorpion Control and Why It Matters
Scorpions are nocturnal arachnids found throughout the United States, especially in the Southern and Southwestern regions. While most species in the U.S. are not deadly, the Arizona Bark Scorpion is venomous, making scorpion pest control a crucial part of keeping your family safe.
Scorpions hide under rocks, wood piles, and other debris and may enter homes searching for shelter. Knowing how to get rid of scorpions in your house starts with proper identification and inspection.
How to Identify Scorpions
Understanding what a scorpion looks like is key to effective scorpion control:
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Body: Long, slender with a segmented tail ending in a stinger.
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Legs: Eight legs and a pair of pincers in front.
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Size: ½ inch to over 8 inches; most U.S. species are around 2 inches.
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Color: Yellow, tan, reddish-brown, blue, or black.
Is a Scorpion an Insect?
Scorpions are arachnids, not insects, as you would think. They are close relatives to spiders, mites, and ticks.
Inspecting Your Home for Scorpions
Before applying treatments, inspect areas where scorpions may hide. Wear gloves, shoes, and long clothing for protection.
Outside Inspection:
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Under mulch, pine straw, and wood chips
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Under flower pots, stones, and retaining walls
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Coiled hoses and foundation cracks
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Under temporary shelters like plywood with rocks on top
Inside Inspection:
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Attics and garages (striped bark scorpions are common here)
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Closets, shoes, and piles of clothing
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Curtains and curtain rods
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Beneath furniture
Pro Tip: Use a UV Tracker Light to detect scorpions at night. They fluoresce under UV, making them easier to spot.
Common Scorpion Species in the U.S.
1. Striped Bark Scorpion
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Size: Up to 2 ¾ inches
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Color: Yellowish-brown with two dark stripes along its back
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Habitat: Indoors and outdoors under vegetation, debris, and rural structures
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Sting: Mild swelling; not typically deadly
2. Arizona Bark Scorpion
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Size: 2.7–3.1 inches
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Color: Pale yellow, turning orange after molting
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Habitat: Homes, tree bark, walls, ceilings
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Sting: Painful and potentially dangerous; seek medical attention if stung
3. Arizona Stripetail Scorpion
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Size: 2–3 inches
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Color: Pale yellow with darker stripes on the tail segment
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Habitat: Rock crevices, under bark, and desert regions
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Sting: Mildly painful; not considered life-threatening
4. Arizona Hairy Scorpion
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Size: Up to 6 inches
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Color: Yellowish body with darker back and furry appearance
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Habitat: Deserts, sandy areas, under rocks and logs
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Sting: Painful; mild swelling; generally not harmful to humans
5. California Common Scorpion
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Size: 1.5–3 inches
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Color: Light tan to brown
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Habitat: Arid regions, under debris, rocks, and vegetation
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Sting: Painful; not medically serious for most people
Knowing the species helps determine the best scorpion pest control strategy.
How to Get Rid of Scorpions
Step 1: Remove Hiding Places
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Clear rocks, wood piles, and debris from your yard
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Prune shrubs and remove leaf litter
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Seal gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and wires
Step 2: Apply Residual Insecticides
Residual insecticides are the most effective method for scorpion control. Recommended products include:
Application:
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Spray a 3–10 foot band around the perimeter of your home
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Treat potential harborage areas inside and outside, including attics, closets, garages, and baseboards
Step 3: Use Insecticide Dusts
Insecticide dusts work well in attics and wall voids:
Apply using a hand duster or garden duster (like the Dustin Mizer) to cracks, crevices, and electrical fittings.
Step 4: Glue Boards for Non-Toxic Control
Place insect glue boards along walls and under furniture as a non-toxic method of DIY scorpion pest control.
Prevent and Exclude Scorpions From Your Home
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Seal gaps around doors, windows, and vents
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Repair leaky air conditioners
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Use weather stripping and tight-fitting screens
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Shake out shoes and clothing before wearing
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Avoid walking barefoot in scorpion-prone areas
Combining prevention with insecticides and dusts ensures long-term scorpion control.
If you find your scorpion infestation to be serious enough to the point where you are not confident you can handle the pest control on your own, it may be worth contacting local professional pest control companies. In most scorpions, though, using the methods and treatments we have described here is more than enough to execute an effective pest control plan for your home.
FAQs About Scorpion Control
How do I get rid of scorpions permanently?
To get rid of scorpions permanently, use residual insecticides and residual dusts around your home's foundation, cracks, crevices, and entry points. Also, eliminate hiding spots by removing outdoor debris, sealing gaps in walls, and inspecting at night with a UV tracker light.
What scents will keep scorpions away?
Scorpions are repelled by strong scents like lavender, cedarwood, cinnamon, peppermint, and citrus oils. Use these essential oils diluted with water and spray around entry points, baseboards, and dark hiding places to deter scorpions naturally.
What to do if there's a scorpion in your house?
If you find a scorpion in your house, wear gloves and use long-handled tongs to safely capture and remove it. Inspect areas like closets, shoes, curtain rods, and under furniture using a UV tracker light at night, then apply residual insecticides and dust in cracks and crevices where scorpions may hide.
Where do scorpions live in your house?
Scorpions in your house can live in attics, garages, closets (including inside clothing pockets), shoes, beneath furniture, and on or inside curtain rods. Use a UV flashlight at night to locate them, and wear gloves and long clothing when inspecting these areas.
Why are scorpions hard to get rid of?
Scorpions are hard to get rid of because they hide in small cracks, are active at night, and can live in a wide range of environments indoors and outdoors. Use a UV flashlight to locate them and apply residual insecticides and dusts to entry points, baseboards, attics, and voids where they may be hiding.
Do scorpions climb into beds?
Yes, scorpions can climb into beds, especially if the bed touches walls or hanging bedding reaches the floor. To prevent this, move your bed away from walls, tuck in bedding, and use residual insecticides or dust treatments around baseboards and entry points.
Does killing a scorpion attract more?
No, killing a scorpion does not attract more. To reduce scorpion populations, use residual insecticides and dusts around entry points, cracks, and hiding spots.
Do scorpions travel in pairs?
No, scorpions do not travel in pairs; they are solitary creatures. If you find one, inspect thoroughly using a UV flashlight, as others may still be nearby hiding in dark or sheltered areas.
What is the best homemade scorpion repellent?
The best homemade scorpion repellent is a mixture of cedar oil and water sprayed around entry points and hiding places. You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth in cracks, crevices, and areas where scorpions may enter or hide.
What happens if a scorpion stings you?
A scorpion sting may cause pain and swelling, similar to a bee or wasp sting, and is usually not dangerous. However, if stung by a venomous species like the Arizona Bark Scorpion, symptoms can include numbness, breathing difficulty, or convulsions—seek medical attention immediately.