Scorpion infestation?

[skinnergy]

I took down my AC ceiling vent in the office in order to redirect it. I unscrewed it, lowered it and looked down to see a small scorpion making a dash towards my thumb. Needless to say, I dropped the AC vent like a hot potato. The vent hit the floor and the scorpion scuttled away. Luckily, I was able to find it under a box and squish it...well.

A few weeks ago, She was in the kitchen when she suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream and said "A scorpion stung me! It ran under the stove!" I moved the stove and there it was.

A little research revealed that scorpion stings are one of the most painful stings one can get locally. The extreme pain is short-lived, fortunately, with the worst passing in 15 - 20 min.

We are in a house on a recently cleared lot off Chat Holly. We have seen four scorpions outside and now two inside in the year this house has been on this lot. They're in the ceiling! Do we have an infestation going on?

We have not used an exterminator yet, cuz we haven't seen any roaches. I hate to use poison in my living environment, but perhaps it's time. Anybody else have scorpion experience in SoWal, particularly in the house?

 

[ShallowsNole]

Scorpions like pine trees. We had an infestation when we lived in Freeport. We were able to get rid of them, by calling our exterminator and eventually thinning out the 75 skinny pine trees that were in our yard.

 

[lerxst]

I've seen a few over the years in and around the house. Got stung once on the knee as I was folding a blanket. The scorp evidently got into my dryer as my dryer vent flap was missing.

Not sure if you have an "infestation" but you may want to contact a local exterm. for an opinion.

 

[dmarie]

Oh my, absolute heaven-to-Betsy, dear Lord save me!!!!!!! This scares me terribly. I HATE bugs, whereas, I only dislike snakes. You see far many more bugs and of such greater variety than you do snakes! Bah Hum Bug!!

 

[florida girl]

Welcome to the woods of South Walton! Only scorpions? You're fortunate!

 

[foxmomfive]

Anything that a person can put down themselves (without a professional exterminator) to help prevent these creatures from thinking they are welcome guests?

 

[Susan Horn]

I'd think about diatomaceous earth. Probably available at Eastern Lake Nursery.

 

[kathydwells]

I don't live in South Walton, but I too had scorpion problems when I first moved into my house. There were several piles of wood around my deck, and that black plastic weed killer stuff under my deck. After I had seen several scorpions in my house I called Orkin. They told me to get rid of the wood and the black plastic because that is where they like to live. After removing all of that, I have not seen one sense.

Those things freak me out. I would rather see a snake. spider just about anything other than a scorpion. Good luck, I hope you rid yourself of them!

 

[Lynnie]

Ooooh, I am fatally allergic to certain stings. I would not be able to mess with scorpions and while I don't like chemicals in and around my living environment, I would have serious decisions to make.

I did find one in my room in Costa Rica (pacific side) and I never turned my back on it.........danced around, jumped on the bed and looked for higher spaces even until someone came to my rescue!

Since then, I've learned that lavender and citrus is a natural deterrent for scorpions. The plants themselves......plant some outside and bring some inside as well. Good luck! I now have the heebee geebees.

 

[ASH]

I got stung once attempting to get up into the attic. Got me right on the neck!

Thanks for the ideas on what might keep them at bay. I have tried a bug killer that works on spiders, but not on the scorpions, even though it ssays it kills them. I sprayed directly onto a scorp out in my warehouse yesterday, 1/2 hour later it was still cruising around.
Had to make him a lot flatter before he quit moving. ;-)