critters, pests...whatever's out there! SCORPIONS!

There are a few commercial products intended for indoor residential use in spraying for scorpions but I have no knowlege of their effectivity and would like to hear user reports. I am not only interested in controlling the scorpions but in not unduly poisoning the air we breathe or staining the baseboards and or carpets.

I killed a 3 inch (I didn't measure it) scorpion on the carpet in our bedroom. It ran for cover under the bedroom linen closet door but was visible when I opened the door and I gave it a good whack with a large sized paint stirring stick with no apparent effect (its shields were not damaged, captain) I made a cutting/pressing stroke across it to no avail as the carpet gave it cushioning to sink into.

Similar treatment, to scale, would have easily killed any of us mere mortals leaving a mangled bloody heap of nearly unrecognizable pureed people stuff.

Mr. Scorpion ducked unde a pile of plastic storage bags of bed clothes. I yanked away his cover and concealment and proceeded to apply about 40lbs to his mid section with my vorpal swoard, I mean paint stick. I'm not sure how extensive the damage was to his life support systems or weapons array but as he slipped from sight in a descending vortex of swirling water he didn't seem to be effecting any particular recognizable swimming stroke.

Any recommendatiions? As much fun as it is to "deal" with them, I'd just as soon not have my wife step on one in the dark, barefoot.

I have purchased some granular products for spreading outside around the perriphery of the house. That should limit the numbers comiing in. My concern is the ones that are already in. A couple months ago I killed a smaller one in my shop, I think. It ran under the sheetrock where there isn't any baseboard yet and I cleaned its brakes with spray cleaner/degreaser type brake and electric motor cleaner, the first aerosol I could lay hands on. Then found my wasp and hornet stream sprayer and shot some in too for good measure. Never saw the critter again and assume I got it. (Crosses fingers and whistles a little tune)

I'd like to start at the more ecologically responsible end of the spectrum and work my way, as required, toward nuclear weapons.

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Pat, scorpions are another of those things that the mind never forgets. I think I was about 7 years old when one got in the bed with me. He stung me 3 times before I could get of bed yelling for help. I have no idea how effective the do-it-yourself chemicals are, but when we bought a new house in '72, I think it was the first or second night we were there that I saw two small scorpions and we had 3 and 6 year old daughters at the time. So the next day, I had a professional exterminator out there, and never saw another scorpion in the house. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

Bird, If I spray indoors around the baseboards and under sinks etc and put the granules around the perimmeter of the bld AND THEN still get scorpions you may rest assured I will be on the phone to round up professional assistance.

There are LED flashlights on the market that emit UV and not much if any visible (to people) light. Scorpions glow strongly under "black" light. You can use one of these lights to "find" scorpions as well as indications of rodent infestation or activity.

Rodent urine also glows brightly under a UV light source. Inspectors of grain (and similar) storage facilities use UV to estimate rat populations and activity levels in the storage facilities. Of course if the personnel know an inspector is coming they get out their own black light and a grain scoop and hide the evidence. Try not to think of this while eating toast and cereal.

Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

I just use a size 8EEE boot. Of course if they're on the ceiling, I use the swat-stomp method - knock it down with a fly swatter, then stomp. But then we don't have carpeting...

Sure wish I could use this method on chiggers. [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Pat
I use Viper Insecticide (25.3% Cypermethrin) for scorpions, spiders, ants, wasps, roaches, etc . A 4 oz bottle costs about $16.00 at my local feed store (Dennards in Whitesboro, TX), & makes 4 gallons of spray. I spray foundation walls, brick weep holes, & inside perimeter wall base board molding. It has about a 4 month residual effect, so I usually spray in March/April & again in July/August. Works great!

Marty Anderson

What are chiggers? [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Ergon,

Come down to Missouri for a visit and I'll teach you what they are!

From this website: Chiggers

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Probably no creature on earth can cause as much torment for its size than the tiny chigger. Tiny six-legged chigger larvae attack campers, picnickers, hikers, bird watchers, berry pickers, fishermen, soldiers, and homeowners in low, damp areas where vegetation is rank such as woodlands, berry patches, orchards, along lakes and streams, and even in drier places where vegetation is low such as lawns, golf courses, and parks. They are most numerous in early summer when grass, weeds and other vegetation are heaviest. Chiggers do not burrow into the skin, but insert their mouthparts in a skin pore or hair follicle. Their bites produce small, reddish welts on the skin accompanied by intense itching as irritating as acute cases of poison ivory or poison sumac. These symptoms often are the only way of learning that an outdoor area is infested since chiggers are so small that most cannot be seen without a magnifying glass. Chiggers feed on a wide variety of snakes, turtles, birds, and small mammals as well as humans.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hondo, So if you get up in the night and walk around, you put your boots on first? If my mission is one of sufficient urgency that it woke me up (thunder storms don't usually do it) I probably want to proceed to the bathroom and not put on boots. I also would not like to tread upon any errant scorpions too.

So there we have it, the conflict of requirements. Walking in a darkened room at night, barefoot, but not subject to stepping on a scoprion.

We got a short drizzle yesterday and may get more in next couple days but toward the weekend it will be dry, some windy, and about 100F. I will be out early trying to beat the heat circling the house wilth a spreader putting out insect killing granules to reduce the number of insects with an opportunity to get into the house.

What is left to plan is something to handle the ones inside but not poison ourselves in the process.

If only there were an available affordable scorpion attractant/pheremone...

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Pat,

Why not install the correct wavelength UV lamp as a nightlight? The scorpions will glow and be easy to avoid. [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Actually, I just slip on my flip flops. [img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Egon,

You don't wanna know. Believe me! [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Gary, Great suggestion! We could be working on our tans and cataracts too at the same time.

Actually, not such a bad idea. The low pressure long wave UV tubes have a useful spectral ouitput. These are the blacklights that look like standard fluorescent tubes except are dark instead of white and glow blue/purple (have some visible output) when runing.

There are UV LED's too for the truly energy conscious.

Now if UV would keep them out of bed (see Birds post) or out of clothes or shoes or... then you'd be on to something.

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Hondo, Works for little scorpions but a good sized one when stepped on could arch its STINGER missle up and over and nail you!

Interesting, Russian roulette with your feet.



[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Marty, I found what I want on ebay but have been struggling to buy it as I was stuck in a loop in their paypal software and couldn't get it bought but I haven't given up yet.

I am trying to buy a one pound jar of the dry material for about $67. It will make many many gallons of spray when mixed with water and it has a good shelf life so I don't have to worry about storing it for a while prior to mixing. IT is supposed to be good for scorpions, spiders, German roaches, ants, and so forth. It is supposed to have a good residual effect and last at least 3 months or more. I likke the fact that it is colorless and odorless and very low toxicity for humans (family trait for pyretheroids.)

Thanks again for the info. It is EXACTLY what I needed to know to head me in the right direction.

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

What can I say, I just like to live dangerously! With my luck I'll get stung, for the first time (by a scorpion, that is), this week. [img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Hondo, There are various combinations of factors to be considered in risk management. I live at or very near the geographic center of tornado alley..... yet the mathematical probablilitiy of a residential structure in this area receiving significant tornadic damage (not just a blown off shingle and not complete destruction but significant damage that could be life threatening) is on the order of once in 4000 years according to the weather scientists and climatologists at the NOAA severe weather HQ at Norman, OK (south side suburb of OKC, home of OU.)

It is much more likely that I will be stung by a scorpion. I have a safe room, two actually, my master bedroom and a guest bedroom are both nearly bomb proof. To not take precautions against scorpions would be illogical unless I didn't mind the consequences, another important factor in risk management.

Some events are pretty likely but the consequences are not particularly disastrous so you don't take measures to ameliorate the likelihood of an occurence or related loss. For example, a deductable on collision insurance. You will probably get a ding sooner or later but if it is less than say 250 or 500 bucks you take your chances.

Stinging insects and ones capable of carrying disease really creep me out. Scorpions around here for folks with normal reactions and no super sensitive alergies are more of a nuisience than a health threat but I have a strong (perhaps over) reaction to the idea of being stung. I have spent time where some of the scorpions are life threatening.

Recent encounter. I was helping a new arrival to the area from Hawaii. Wasp looking critters were buzzing around and I ignored them mostly. Sometimes I swat them out of the air with my hand and then step on them. It works if your quick. I have never been stung doing this. If I ignore wasps, hornets, bees etc they don't sting me, so far. The lady saw one and began a retreat. I saw one go straight up to the lady while she was walking quickly away and immediattely sting her on the back of her upper arm through her blouse. She is alergic and had to take medicine and quit for the day with a big welt and dizziness. I have never in decades seen an insect do like that with no provocation. Apparently there is something about her and bugs.

Anyway, different strokes for different folks.

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Just be carefull in the bathtub or shower! [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Egon, I'm afraid you may have been a little less forthcoming in your terse comment than required to key me in to your intent. Are you talking about household hazards in general or is there something about scorpions liking bathtubs and showers?

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Maybe he's thinking of the "drain monsters"!

Gary, Yeah, I think I saw a special on those on TV. Just when you thought it was safe to use your bath tub or shower.... ZZZZOT, they get you! Later evidence shows they are developing resistance to Drano, bleach, mothballs, and other standard household chemicals even muriatic acid and lye. They even survive freeze thaw cycles and can go dormant for decades in a dry environment and become dangerously active within a few minutes upon being reconstitiuted with water.

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

I was just thinking of the probability of being hurt in the bathtub or shower. I think it is quite high.

It was a random thought that surface when the tornado probability was mentioned.

Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Like, wow, man. Gary's idea about the black lights is really far out. Like, you could then decorate the house in Zeppelin and Dead posters. That would be sooooo cool. Oh, and take out the doors and hang some beads. Pat, what would your old lady say? Man, this is getting better the more I think about it. Oooo- Pat, do you own a van? Maybe we could all come up and paint a big psychedelic scorpion on the side, like, you know, karma to drive them away from your pad. Or, bummer... that might not work.

Egon, So now I have wasted all that incense and chicken blood on drain monsters that you were not even concerned about!

The 4x4 tile in the curbless, doorless, and curtainless shower was selected for its non-skid properties and their are good sized triangular seats covered with tile and 100% filled with concrete at opposite diagonal corners of the shower.

With no curb to step over, no door or curtain to fuss with, places to sit to perform portions of your ablutions that otherwise might make you unsteady on your feet, and non-skid footing there is little reason to have a slip and fall accident. The 5X5 triangular Jacuzzi tub has non-skid molded into its bottom but requires some care during ingress and egress to be safe. I am thinking I will mount some sturdy stainless steel grab bars on the wall above and beside the tub as my wife is less steady getting in and out.

You are right though, as the bathroom and kitchen are likely the most accident prone locations in the house. Reflecting on the probablilities, I'd have to say that ordinarily in the typical bathroom the liklihood of of being injured is greater over your lifetime than beingn injured by a tornado by a considerable margin.

Even though significant tornadic damage to a residential structure in our area is not very probable (once per 4000 years) it is prudent to prepare since the consequences can be drastic/fatal...A..N..D.. this could be T H E year.

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Pat,

Regarding wasps, I don't mind the ones I see, it's the ones I don't see who sting me. In the past two years I've been stung twice. On both occasions, my arm turned red and swelled to Popeyeian proportions. Don't know why. They never affected me this way before (I always ignored them, once the initial pain subsided), but now I am a bit freaked about getting further stings. And wasps, unfortunately, are everywhere, and getting stung again, despite precautions, is in my case a probability, rather than a possibility, unless I drastically change my lifestyle.

Epinephrine is the treatment of choice for anaphylaxis. But 1 out of every 3 people may have a reaction severe enough to require more than 1 dose of epinephrine. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how severe your next reaction could be.

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[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]