Living in Arizona means enjoying sunny winters, but it also means sharing our space with desert creatures, including scorpions. As the temperatures drop in December, you might think these pests disappear. However, scorpions often seek warmth and shelter inside our homes, making this time of year a prime season for indoor encounters.
A scorpion sting is not only painful but can also be dangerous, especially for children, the elderly, and pets. Keeping them out of your home is essential for your family’s safety and peace of mind.
This guide will provide you with practical, effective tips to keep your home scorpion-free this December. From simple home maintenance tasks to professional pest control solutions, we’ll cover everything you need to know to protect your property. By following these steps, you can enjoy the holiday season without worrying about unwanted eight-legged guests.
Why Scorpions Invade Homes in Winter
While scorpions are resilient desert dwellers, they are also cold-blooded and need to regulate their body temperature. When the outside air gets chilly in December, they go into a state similar to hibernation called diapause. To survive, they seek out warm, dark, and undisturbed places. Unfortunately, your cozy home provides the perfect environment.
Scorpions can flatten their bodies to fit through tiny cracks and crevices, some as small as a credit card. They are often drawn to areas that offer warmth, moisture, and a potential food source (like other insects). Common entry points include gaps under doors, cracks in the foundation, and openings around pipes and utility lines. Once inside, they can hide in shoes, closets, under furniture, or in piles of laundry, leading to unpleasant surprises.
How to Prevent Scorpions This Winter
Taking proactive steps is the best way to keep scorpions out of your home. Here are some effective prevention tips you can implement this December.
Seal Entry Points
The most crucial step in scorpion prevention is to seal any potential entry points into your home. A thorough inspection of your home’s exterior can reveal surprising vulnerabilities.
- Doors and Windows: Install weatherstripping around doors and windows. Use door sweeps to close the gap between the bottom of the door and the threshold.
- Foundation and Walls: Carefully inspect your home’s foundation and exterior walls for cracks or gaps. Use caulk to seal any openings you find.
- Utility Lines: Check where pipes, wires, and utility lines enter your home. Seal any gaps around these entry points with caulk, steel wool, or expanding foam.
- Vents and Screens: Ensure all vents are properly screened and that your window and door screens are in good repair, with no rips or tears.
Tidy Up Your Yard
Your yard can be a perfect breeding ground and hiding spot for scorpions. A well-maintained landscape makes your property less attractive to these pests.
- Remove Debris: Clear away woodpiles, rock piles, and any yard debris. Scorpions love to hide under these objects. If you keep firewood, store it at least 20 feet away from your house and elevate it off the ground.
- Trim Vegetation: Trim back tree branches, shrubs, and overgrown bushes so they don’t touch your home’s exterior. This eliminates “bridges” that scorpions can use to access your roof and upper-level windows.
- Maintain Your Lawn: Keep your grass mowed short and rake up fallen leaves regularly. This reduces hiding spots and exposes scorpions to predators.
Eliminate Their Food Source
Scorpions feed on other insects like crickets, spiders, and roaches. By controlling the general pest population in and around your home, you make it a less appealing place for scorpions to hunt.
- Change Your Lighting: Outdoor lights can attract insects that scorpions prey on. Switch to yellow-colored light bulbs, which are less attractive to bugs.
- Address Moisture Issues: Fix leaky pipes, faucets, and air conditioning units. Eliminate any standing water in your yard, as it attracts the insects that scorpions eat.
- Regular Pest Control: A consistent pest control plan is the most effective way to eliminate the scorpion’s food supply.
Check Everything You Bring Inside
Scorpions are expert hitchhikers. During the holiday season, you might be bringing boxes of decorations, packages, or firewood into your home. Always inspect these items carefully before bringing them inside to ensure no unwanted pests are tagging along. Shake out any blankets or clothing that have been stored in garages or sheds.
Partner with the Professionals
While DIY methods can significantly reduce your risk of a scorpion infestation, sometimes a professional touch is needed. Since 1947, Arizona Pest Control has provided Southern Arizona with reliable, environmentally responsible pest management solutions. Our licensed technicians have the expertise to identify and treat scorpion problems effectively.
We use advanced methods and pet- and children-friendly products to create a protective barrier around your home, keeping scorpions and other pests out. If you’re dealing with scorpions this December, don’t wait for a painful sting. Let our family-owned company protect yours.
Contact Arizona Pest Control today for a free in-home evaluation and enjoy a scorpion-free holiday season.
