While some Fort Worth residents might be used to scorpions, this pest might be one of the most undesirable to stumble upon in your home. Like their arachnid relatives, meaning spiders, scorpions are a bit unsettling. Although many species of scorpions are shy and tend to avoid people, their pincers and stinger feel threatening.
The most common species in the area is the striped bark scorpion, which is about 2 ½ inches long, has yellowish to tan coloring, and two dark parallel strips down the back. They also glow under ultraviolet light, which can help you locate them if they are in your house.
Scorpions aren’t pests that prefer the inside because it limits their food availability, but sometimes they can wander in. If this happens, they will most likely hide in lightly trafficked and dark areas, like underneath furniture and potted plants.
Whether you have an active infestation of scorpions or want to prevent one from happening, you should continue reading about this pest that lives in the Fort Worth area.
Are Scorpions In The Area Dangerous?
Like spiders, all scorpions have venom, but not all of them are medically dangerous to people. Luckily, there is only one dangerous species in the United States, and it does not live in Texas. This is the Arizona bark scorpion, which lives in New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California.
Although an encounter with striped bark scorpions or other species found in Texas most likely won’t lead to fatality, a sting from one should not be taken lightly. Stings are painful and may cause allergic reactions as well as swelling, numbness, and tingling. Most people who have been stung will only suffer mild symptoms, but certain groups such as people with compromised immune systems, children, the elderly, and even pets may have a more severe reaction. Anaphylactic shock symptoms you should look out for include:
- Blurry vision
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty breathing
- Trouble swallowing
No matter what, it is always wise to seek medical attention if you or someone else has been stung.
What Are Some Prevention Tips For Scorpions?
Scorpions are the type of pest that seemingly pop up out of nowhere inside your house. You should know about scorpions because they are attracted to properties with adequate prey options, such as insects, small mammals, and spiders. Luckily, there are several tips you can implement around your Fort Worth property to reduce the possibility of scorpions and prey pests.
- Fix any plumbing such as leaky faucets, pipes, and sinks that are not draining properly.
- Use dehumidifiers to reduce humidity and ensure your home has proper ventilation, especially in the bathroom, kitchen, crawlspaces, and basements.
- Clear excess foliage, leaf piles, and other organic debris from your yard.
- Store firewood away from your home.
- Repair and install screens, door sweeps, and weather stripping around doors and windows.
- Declutter your home to remove hiding places.
To keep pest prey off your property, you should also reduce food sources by removing crumbs and spills immediately, storing open food in air-tight containers, and picking up fallen fruit in your yard.
How Can Professionals Help With Scorpions?
The best way to get rid of and prevent future scorpions is with professional assistance. If you live in Fort Worth, Texas, you should contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for help with scorpions and other pests that might be causing problems on your property.
Give us a call at All-Safe Pest & Termite to get started with the home pest control and commercial pest control services you need to have a pest-free home.