One pest that is a scary one to come across outside of an exotic pet store is a scorpion. Even behind the safety of a glass aquarium, a scorpion sends most people into a fit of nervous fear. Scorpions are a very common pest around Greater Austin, TX so if you have ever come across them you most likely know that stepping on one to try to kill it is a bad idea.
A-Tex Pest Management outlines what a scorpion is, why you don’t want to be stung and what you can do to scare them away from your home.
Is a Scorpion an Insect or Arachnid?
Scorpions are arachnids much like spiders but they do have some characteristics that set them apart. The scorpion has eight legs just like a spider but they also have a set of pincers on the front that are used to grasp. However, these are not the scariest part of a scorpion. They also have a jointed tail that they carry in an arc with a stinger at the end that is venomous. The venom is enough to cause very serious reactions to some people. Scorpions are especially dangerous to older people and small children. Scorpions come in an array of sizes and colors and some are so small they are hard to distinguish while some are so large you just can’t miss them. Scorpions can be brown, tan, grey and black. They feed on small insects and use their venom to slow the prey way down.
Why Do Scorpions Glow Under Blacklight?
Scorpions prefer to be out after dark and will look for food and water in the dark of night. An interesting thing about a scorpion is their reaction to a black light. This is what is used to identify scorpions in the dark. They glow brightly under a blacklight flashlight. The blue-green glow comes from a substance found in the hyaline layer on the scorpion; a very thin but super tough coating in the scorpion’s exoskeleton. Scorpions are found most often outdoors and around brick and cinder block walls in the cracks and edges. The female scorpion gives birth to live babies and the mother will keep them with her on her back for up to two weeks.
How To Prevent Scorpions from Entering Your Home?
Preventing scorpions can be challenging. They live outdoors and are hard reclusive during daylight hours. It is difficult to even identify whether you have a problem and how bad the infestation is. One way to prevent scorpions is to pull plants and weeds that are growing around the area or your home and outer walls. But the best way to get rid of scorpions is to call a pest control company that has experience with treating scorpions like A-Tex Pest Management!