Scorpions

Why scorpions show up

Scorpions are nocturnal hunters that eat crickets, spiders, roaches and other small insects, so a home with plenty of prey draws them. They hide by day in cool, dark, damp spots such as under rocks, logs, mulch, bark and stacked firewood, then move out at night. Heavy rain, drought or construction nearby can push them toward houses in search of shelter.

In Alabama and Georgia, scorpions are an occasional find rather than an everyday problem, but sightings do happen, especially in wooded areas and homes with lots of ground clutter. They can slip into the house through gaps under doors, around pipes and through crawl space vents.

Common species in Alabama and Georgia

Two species are the ones you are most likely to meet. The Hentz striped scorpion (Centruroides hentzi) lives mainly in the coastal plain of south Georgia and south Alabama. It is pale yellow-brown with two dark stripes down its back, and it climbs well, so it turns up on walls and in rafters. The southern devil scorpion (Vaejovis carolinianus) is small and dark and is found mostly in the northern and central parts of both states, usually under bark, logs and stones.

Either way, the sting of the scorpions found here is similar to a bee or wasp sting: painful, with redness and swelling at the site. Anyone with an allergy, and any young child who is stung, should get medical advice, and trouble breathing or other severe symptoms call for emergency care.

How we treat scorpions

Scorpions are hard to spot, so we use a flashlight to check the foundation, crawl space vents, wood piles and under stored items for hiding places and entry gaps. We also look for the crickets and other insects they hunt.

Treatment goes where the scorpions shelter and where they cross into the house: the foundation line, door and window thresholds and utility penetrations. Because they follow their prey, cutting down the insects around the home is part of the plan. If you keep seeing them, we come back and adjust, and we leave you a list of yard conditions worth changing.

Prevention tips

• Remove piles of rocks, boards, bark and debris from around the house.
• Store firewood off the ground and away from the walls.
• Keep mulch thin and away from the foundation.
• Seal gaps around pipes, windows and doors, and add door sweeps.
• Check shoes, towels and clothing left on the floor or outside before using them.
• Reduce other insects with outdoor lighting changes and regular pest service.
• Wear gloves when handling firewood or working in the yard.