In this blog, we’ll cover exactly what baby scorpions look like, how they get into your home, and what to do when you spot one.
- What do baby scorpions look like?
- How do baby scorpions get in the house?
- 5 steps to take when you find a baby scorpion in the house
What Do Baby Scorpions Look Like?
There are many species of scorpions in Arizona, and baby scorpions vary in shape, size, and color. Most are well under one inch long and a light cream color – almost translucent at times. Because of their small size and indistinct coloring, they can go unnoticed along walls or in corners of rooms for great periods of time before being found in more obvious places around your home.
There is a common misconception that baby scorpion stings are more poisonous than their adult counterparts (like rattlesnakes). This isn’t true, but their stingers are still effective and can cause painful side effects for humans.
However, there is one thing that seeing a baby scorpion most likely means – there are more of its kind in or around your home.
How Do Baby Scorpions Get in The House?
Born in broods called scorplings, baby scorpions will be carried on their mothers’ backs for a couple of weeks until they are ready to hunt on their own. This means if you’re wondering why there’s a baby scorpion in your house, the answer is likely to be in close proximity – and it might mean an infestation.
Scorpions in your home are attracted to:
- Water: Scorpions need water to survive, and the hot climate of Arizona leads them to pockets of water or moisture in and around your home. This is why you will often find scorpions in your swimming pool, pipes, drains, or nearby any consistent source of water. This means you need to be especially careful around places that have been undisturbed and can provide water and shelter. These can easily be areas that attract baby scorpions.
- Food: Scorpions in Arizona eat insects such as wasps, beetles, bees, and crickets. If these bugs are being attracted to your property for food and water, the scorpions are not far behind – especially if they have babies to feed. If you see an influx of insects in your yard, be especially wary about scorpions who are hunting them.
- Dark Spaces: Scorpions are looking to avoid the heat, as they are nocturnal and do most of their hunting during the night. Baby scorpions will be looking to hide out in cool and covered areas like corners of garages and wood piles. Luckily, adult scorpions glow in the dark, so you can spot them easily using a black light if they are accompanying their brood.
Once you have seen a baby scorpion, you need to take proper measures to remove them and prevent further infestations. Most often, this will require professional scorpion pest control if you believe you are at risk of a scorpion infestation.
5 Steps to Take When You Find a Baby Scorpion in The House
1. Stay Calm: Baby scorpions aren’t looking to attack you unless they are provoked. While you have to deal with a baby scorpion as soon as possible, panicking and throwing things at them will scare them, either resulting in them scurrying and hiding or even getting aggressive.
2. Don’t Touch the Baby Scorpion with Your Hands: Use a broom and a bucket or similar items that allow you to sweep the baby scorpion into a container. If you are having trouble seeing it, try using a black light for support.
3. Take the Scorpion Outside, Away from Your Property: It is likely the scorpion will be agitated at this point, so make sure to remove and dispose of it carefully without making contact.
4. Check for Other Scorpions in Your Home: A baby scorpion is a leading indicator of a scorpion infestation. Check in dark spaces, garages, and even under clothes and in shoes.
5. Take Preventative Measures: Seal cracks in your foundation and under your doors. Trim bushes and trees that lean onto your property, and remove all fibrous debris from your home and yard. Any pools of standing water (including swimming pools) are at risk of attracting scorpions, so continually monitor these.
Ultimately, when you see a baby scorpion in your home, the best move is to contact professional pest control. Scorpion control services are a standard part of a quality pest control company, and they will know how to assess and deal with a potential infestation efficiently.
