Part of the routine when we get to the house after it's been closed up for a week is to walk around and check all the drawers and cabinets for creatures...
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| Scorpion in a drawer |
So I pull open the first drawer and all is clear. The second drawer also clear. The third drawer, oh oh! There was a dead (thankfully) scorpion in the biscuit cutter in 2nd Man's baking supplies drawer.
I asked if we were having scorpion biscuits and gravy...he was not amused.
2nd Family said they have found three scorpions inside their house lately, one in the bathtub, one in a sink and one in a cabinet.
Anyone have any scorpion advice?
Oh I hate those. When we left Houston, I was so relieved to be rid of roaches, but landed in a land of ticks. When you leave to go back to the city, set off a bug bomb in each room and when you return, they will have crawled out of the woodwork and died. Also, spray around baseboards occasionally and the outside perimeter of house.
ReplyDeleteSigh, our roaches are crazy aren't they? Not sure i'd like to trade for ticks though, ha. I will definitely spray around the outside of the house.
DeleteCan sympathise with Donna in regards to the ticks. We can't walk outside without collecting the horrible things. We seem to find our scorpions in the bath tub. They must come up the drain. It's not pleasant having a shower (our shower overhangs the bathtub) and discovering a scorpion at your feet when you happen to look down.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine seeing a scorpion in the shower/tub. Yikes! And ticks? Yuck for that too. I bet the pets hate it too.
Deletedon't step on a live one.
ReplyDeleteI've heard it's not pleasant. :-(
DeleteI agree with the bombs when you leave. Also, you could make sure all drains are closed before you leave. Make sure you tap your shoes/boots before putting them on in the morning and I always put mine on a chair versus being on the floor. You live on a farm and this is part of that living. Have a great week.
ReplyDeletethanks for the info. I never thought about the drains. The are open. I will make sure we start closing them all. And great idea about putting shoes/boots on chair! Thanks for the tips!!!
DeleteDear Sweet Jesus - thank you for not allowing those beautiful and wonderful creatures on our island! we thank you, Sweet Lord!
ReplyDelete*shivers and shudders* bleck.
your friend,
kymber
I wish we could cast them out! LOL!
DeleteAll I can say is - Yikes!
ReplyDeleteYep! Nuff said!
DeleteI would not bomb your house. I wonder if diatomaceous earth would kill them. Sticky paper for mice and bugs. I have never seen a scorpion.
ReplyDeleteDiatomaceous earth is a good idea, I will research that. Thank you!!
DeleteDE is not always effective with scorpions, but I believe it depends on how sturdy their exoskeleton is. They are tough little buggers.
DeleteLike Pam commented below, lavender can be a semi-effective deterrent (and you don't have to worry about chemicals).
I just make sure there's always a sturdy shoe within reach and they aren't really a problem, but I am also paranoid enough that I fluff my bed sheets out and check between the sheets and comforter (and also in the pillowcases) before bed, because I've found a couple just hanging out on my bed before. I rarely see them in the winter, they come out more when it gets a bit warmer.
Also - their exoskeleton will "glow" if you shine a black light on them. Kinda fun/creepy to go outside at night with a black light flashlight and gross yourself out with how many are in your yard. I don't suggest that for the faint of heart!
Gaahhhh! Glowing exoskeleton??!! I think I have to faint now...
DeleteTonya, cover your eyes....KristinP, I am SO going to do that!!! Sounds like a fun thing to do at night. And thanks for the info on the lavender and DE.
DeleteKP.... (Y) :)
DeleteI shouldn't be surprised any more at how surprised I am at times at your posts! And yes I do have a suggestion for you to try. I nearly died the first time I had to deal with a scorpion down on the farm in Tasmania, then I got used to it (ahem, well sort of!) An old remedy (and I found it worked particularly for the shower stall) Get a bottle of eucalyptus oil or tee tree oil and run a generous smear around the border of the area you don't want them in and it deters them (lasts about 2-4 days) However, they will just go somewhere else! But, for me it was really good not to absent mindedly leap into the shower and be greeted by a very much alive scorpion. good luck!
ReplyDeleteAnd I bet your scorpions down there are crazy serious, ha. Great idea, thank you for that, I will make sure we get some of that and have on hand. Even for while we are there on the weekends, that would be perfect. Especially if it keeps us from stepping on a scorpion too, ha.
DeleteHello.....I love your blog....Plant lavender. You can plant it around the perimeter of the home, buy dried plants, or get lavender essentials oils to use when cleaning and refreshing your home. The fresh plants seem to have a better effect than oils or dried plants though. It's quite easy to grow and maintain, and smells wonderful.
ReplyDeleteCitrus is also considered to be another deterrent.[4] You could grow citrus in pots near your entrance areas and use citrus oil cleaners in bathroom and other wet zones of the house.
Thank you!!! First thanks for the kind words and welcome! Awesome info about the lavender. The essential oil is a great idea. Hmmm....I'm not sure how well it grows down here but I'm willing to try. Citrus is a great idea too because we definitely want that as well. Thanks!!
DeleteI think it would grow fine, 1st Man.....it's very hearty! Here is an article.... http://www.gabrielvalleyfarms.com/growing-lavender-sucessfully-in-texas.html Good luck! <3
Delete1st Man,
ReplyDeleteThe scorpions are attracted to moisture, dark places, wood, piles outside of home, and food (ie: ants, worms, roaches). I would suggest to caulk around your windows and doors on the outside of the house. Make sure to remove any wood piles by the house. If you have a wood pile, move it away from your home. I would also get Borax (at grocery store in the laundry soap aisle) and sprinkle this around the windows and base boards of your home.
It's to cold here so there's no signs of scorpions here yet. When it warms we will have them.
Borax, I've heard of using that, that might work too (and hey, if it takes care of other bugs, I'm ok with that too, ha). No wood piles near the house but I'll make sure nothing is under the house either.
DeleteNot sure if I'd rather have the extreme cold or the occasional scorpion, LOL!
Stay warm, we're cold again too.
My advice is RUN LIKE HECK!
ReplyDeleteIf it was a live one, I might be apt to do just that!! :-)
DeleteYUCK Bug! Only Bugs I like are Lady Bugs and Praying Mantis
ReplyDeleteDoes the planting Lavender work for Spiders too? I have a TON of Spiders (BIG ONES TOO! Well, I think they're BIG) in my new home (property was a former Corn Field.
Now those are a couple of good bugs. Love Lady Bugs and Mantis' as well. And bees. Spiders can push me either way...some I don't mind, others freak me out, ha.
DeleteI guess the lizards I get in my house aren't as bad as scorpions.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Lizards are pretty cool. They eat bad bugs. If you are ok with lizards of course, ha.
DeleteOk under Holy Crap for $600 please Alex you win! Ok...Illinois has some poisonous snakes...way down south from here. The worse we have is the worlds biggest spiders around here. That said they aren't poisonous and I've yet to meet one that could take my shoe! I'll stick with the spiders. Ick ick ick ick ick! Just sayin'!
ReplyDeleteTell us how you really feel, LOL! Yeah, scorpions take some getting used to. But I'm sure they would not fare well to a shoe either, ha.
DeleteWe have had scorpions here off and on again for years. After we had our shop built, they were showing up all the time. We think that their home was disturbed by the excavating. We still have them every so often - usually in the garage or scuttling about in the garden. We try to keep Chucky away from them and we keep liquid Benadryl on hand should he get stung. Our last dog had a bad reaction to a scorpion sting and we don't want that to happen again with dear Chucky.
ReplyDeleteUgh...I would hate to seem them scuttling about outside, though I'm still intrigued about the blacklight experiment.
DeleteYes, I didn't think about it but the animals are vulnerable too huh? Liquid benadryl might be good for everyone, 4 legged and 2 legged, ha.
Thanks!!