How to Kill a Scorpion

Scorpions are notoriously difficult to eradicate. These venomous spiders are used to living in extreme conditions, so they will not be harmed by insecticides. The surest way to kill scorpions is to pierce their exoskeleton with a sharp object or resort to the sharp teeth of scorpion-hunters to do this for you. Read on to get started right away.

Table of Contents

Piercing the scorpion’s exoskeleton

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Wear protective clothing. Wear jeans or thick pants, leather shoes, and thick gloves to prevent the scorpion from somehow getting close enough and attacking you. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}

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Find a sharp object. In the state of Arizona, where scorpions are not uncommon in bedrooms and backyards, large and long tweezers can be found in hardware stores. You can use these tweezers to puncture the scorpion’s exoskeleton, then pick up the carcass and throw it away. If this tool is not sold in your area, a pair of scissors with a long blade, a long knife, or any other sharp object will do. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Quickly stab a sharp object into the scorpion’s body. Scorpions are not usually very agile, but you should act fast to make sure you kill them before they escape. If necessary, you can stab it a few more times to make sure it’s dead.

You can also use another non-sharp object, such as a heavy book, shoe, or long-handled hammer to crush the scorpion instead of stabbing it. However, some scorpions have the ability to press themselves down as thin as a coin, so they may not die when hit with a hard surface. ^{[3] X Research Source} You must rub the heel of a shoe, stone, or other hard object to ensure the scorpion is crushed and killed. When scorpions are motionless or broken into pieces, they are dead.

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Look for scorpions at night. If scorpions become a problem in your home, you can get rid of them at night, when scorpions are active. Buy an ultraviolet light bulb and install it in a flashlight. Shine the light on walls, nooks and crannies, along baseboards, and in areas where scorpions often live. Their exoskeleton will light up under ultraviolet light. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Don’t forget to check the walls outside the house. Scorpions can also hide in piles of rocks and other burrows.

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Consider hiring a professional pest control service. If the thought of coming into contact with a scorpion makes you shudder, you can call a professional service to take care of it. In some areas, you can hire someone to come to your home to hunt and kill scorpions.

Some pest control companies may suggest using insecticides instead of killing scorpions by hand, but many people find insecticides ineffective at getting rid of scorpions.

Try other methods

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Build a chicken coop. Chickens can eat some insects that are prey to scorpions, so they will make your home less attractive to scorpions. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Note that scorpions are nocturnal animals, but chickens are the opposite, so chickens do not have many opportunities to directly hunt for scorpions.

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Try using diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is a natural material made from crushed fossils. It is a white powder that can be sprinkled on entrances, openings and cracks both inside and outside the house. The material is completely harmless to people and pets, but its tiny sharp edges can pierce the exoskeleton of scorpions when they accidentally crawl through an area sprinkled with diatomaceous earth. Diatomic soil also works to kill spiders, cockroaches and other insects. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Set sticky traps. Rat traps or cockroaches also work against scorpions. Set traps in dark corners and near water sources. If you catch a scorpion, you should throw the trap away and place a new one in the same area, as that’s likely where other scorpions are also attracted.

Prevent scorpions from entering the house

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Eliminate the source of the scorpion’s hiding place. Scorpions like to live in dark and sheltered places. You should check both inside and outside of your home for items that could be favorable shelters for scorpions.

Be sure to seal the boxes and place them on a shelf off the ground.
Clean up the mess. Arrange clothes and shoes neatly and off the floor if possible.
Remove wood and rock piles from the yard.

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Eliminate other pests. Scorpions eat insects to live, so if your home has problems with other pests, it will be difficult to control the scorpion population. Keeping your home clean, sprinkling boric acid or diatomaceous earth along the baseboards, and using insecticides are all ways to kill pests. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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House secret. Scorpions can squeeze their bodies down to crawl through very small cracks and openings. Check the floor for spots where scorpions can enter and cover with sealant. Look closely at doors, window frames, vents, chimneys, and other spots where scorpions can enter, making sure these are sealed.

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Keep the house dry. Scorpions are often attracted to wet places. You need to make sure the water pipes are not leaking, install a ventilation fan in the bathroom to dry quickly after use. Do not throw wet towels on the floor. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Advice

Act quickly when trying to kill a scorpion. Scorpions can move quickly, making them hard to find when they’re hiding underneath or through something.
If you often have to kill scorpions in and around your home, you should focus on getting rid of insects or bugs in your home. Scorpions eat these insects, so they often appear with the insects. Eliminating the food source will help get rid of scorpions in and around the house.
The scorpion will light up in the dark. You can use ultraviolet lights at night or turn off all lights in your house to find scorpions.
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the house. Diatomaceous earth cannot prevent scorpions from entering, but the compound can quickly dehydrate them.
Use ultraviolet light to find scorpions outside at night, as they are nocturnal and blend in with their surroundings. You can even find baby scorpions hiding in the grass with this lamp. They will glow green under the lights.
Use a hand-held gas torch to kill scorpions in brick wall crevices. If the temperature is hot enough, you can even kill those hiding in the wall.
A simpler trick – pour vinegar over the scorpion!
Scorpion or fake death. Never pick up a scorpion with your bare hands, even if you think you’ve killed it.
Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up scorpions. The rotation in the vacuum cleaner’s compartment will kill the scorpion almost instantly. This method is quick, easy and safe.

Warning

Never catch a scorpion with your bare hands. You may be stung.
Never step on scorpions with bare feet to crush them. You will be stung by a scorpion.
The Arizona Bark scorpion that lives in the states of New Mexico and Arizona poses a danger with just one sting. Don’t try to catch an Arizona Bark Scorpion.
Avoid using cats to hunt scorpions. Despite the protective coat, cats can still be stung by scorpions and will need treatment. ^{[9] X Research Source}
If you have a severe allergy to scorpion venom, you should bring an epinephrine injector with you. Wear a medical information bracelet to let others know about your allergy in case you become unconscious or unable to speak after being stung by a scorpion. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}
If you are stung, you should stay calm and contact medical services immediately. Do not take sedatives. If it can be done safely, you should capture the scorpion so a professional can identify it and determine the appropriate treatment. ^{[11] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}

Things you need

Scorpion
Objects with a hard surface to smash a scorpion
Pesticide
Cat or chicken
UV lights
Handheld gas torch

Steps