Scorpions.

[jillan]

We've been in our house for 8 years and tonite I saw the second one.

Omg - they CREEP me out. Do any of you get them in your house? I'm looking for tips to keep them out.
I used hairspray to kill it, it happened to be in the bathroom...yes, just as I was going to get into a relaxing bath. Haha. Not much relaxing after seeing one of those creatures. YUCK.

[Catshrink]

1. Eeeewwwwww

I've never seen one at my place but know of people who have. I know two people who were bitten while they slept.

I have one of those ultrasonic things to keep crickets away so maybe it works on scorpions. And I have cats. Knock on wood they stay away!

[jillan]

2. I have those. Great idea - I'm going to plug it in right now.

It was really lucky that my one daughter was in town - she was the one that saw it. My other daughter is blind & has special needs.
I shudder to think if it was her that went into the bathroom at that moment.
We sprayed like crazy outside yesterday....of course that will probably drive them inside.

[drmeow]

4. More info here

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/swest/msg122346418850.html

[bergie321]

11. Adopt a cat

I have found my cats playing with dead scorpions a few times.

Aside from that, make sure that you seal anything leading into your house. A lot of times they like to crawl in along the hose that goes into your house from your A/C unit.

[drmeow]

3. I've heard that its really hard

to get rid of them once they are in your house - they are territorial and tend to return to the same place over and over again.

Cats apparently are not affected by their sting.

We have never had a problem with them but this is what I've heard:

Clear all brush and debris away from around the house so they don't have places to hide close to the house. This also gets rid of various spiders.
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of the house.
Seal up doors, cracks, etc
Boric acid seems to help - also gets rid of cockroaches.
Chickens eat them as do many other fowl (Emus, Peacocks, etc)
Geckos and Gila Monsters (probably other lizards as well)

If you want to go the chemical route try this: http://wmmg.com/cykickcs/shell.asp?id=0 which is available at Weed and Bug stores in the area.

[jillan]

6. We do have Geckos in our backyard - they are great for so many things.

Where do you get boric acid? I did do some reading on that and it's not toxic - I have a very active dog - and I'm thinking of putting it around the doors.

[drmeow]

8. 20-Mule Team Borax

should be in the laundry section. I'm nervous about putting it around pets - its not toxic like poisons but I don't think its good for them - won't kill them but causes upset stomach and vomiting. For cockroaches you have to mix it with sugar or honey or they won't take it ... I'm guessing its the same with scorpions. Probably 2 parts sugar/honey, 1 part borax.

[jillan]

9. Yay - I even have that in my laundry room.

Thanks for all your info!

[azmouse]

5. I find about a dozen of them in and around my house every year.

If they're outside I step on them, if they're in the house I have these extra long tweezers (designed to get to the bottom of jars) that I use to pick them up and then I flush them down the toilet.

I've gotten used to them but they still creep me out too. I've never been stung and I hope it never happens.

Keep in mind they will not sting you unless they feel threatened.
We are way too big for them to consider us prey so they would rather not bother with us.

[jillan]

7. Hairspray does work great to stop them in their tracks. In the last house I lived in we used to

have a problem with those disgusting sewer roaches. Someone told me to keep hairspray handy because it freezes them long enough to stomp on them - so that's what I did with the scorpion.

Ugh Arizona - disgusting critters and poisonous politicians.

[coffee bean]

10. Have you tried a black light?

It's the best way to find them at night.

[jillan]

12. Oh yeah - but this one was waiting for us next to the shower. I'm wondering if he came in thru the

vent. I read that Bark Scorpions do climb :scared: