What Is the Best Scorpion Repellent?

With sharp pincers and stinging tails, scorpions can be unsettling to spot in or around a home. These relatives of ticks and spiders are common in many regions, particularly the warm, dry climates of the southwestern states. Whether you want to rid your home of an existing scorpion problem or prevent an infestation, this guide details the best scorpion repellent methods.

How to Prevent Scorpions From Entering Your Home

The most effective scorpion repellent is proper home maintenance. Scorpions are attracted to sources of shelter, food, and water. They can also squeeze through gaps as narrow as a credit card. By sealing potential entryways and removing other attractants from the picture, you should be able to deter scorpions effectively.

Use the following tips to maintain a scorpion-free environment both indoors and outside:

• Seal gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and vents using caulk and weather stripping.

• Repair or install fine mesh screens over vents and windows.

• Remove piles of clutter that scorpions might seek shelter under, including wood piles.

• Address leaks and other sources of moisture or dampness.

• Reduce the brightness of outdoor light fixtures with yellow or sodium vapor bulbs.

• Hire a pest control service to remove other insects that scorpions tend to feed on.

• Adopt cats or chickens, both of which have been known to kill or eat scorpions.

Natural Scorpion Repellents

Several natural, non-toxic products may have mild scorpion-repellent properties. Scorpions dislike the scent of lavender and cedar, so spray diluted essential oils around entry points and foundations as a repellent. You can use a vinegar solution similarly. However, these should be used in conjunction with the maintenance tips above and not as a substitute.

How to Get Rid of Scorpions

While preventative measures can stop new scorpions from entering your home, they won't solve an existing scorpion problem. The best ways to get rid of scorpions are to apply pesticides directly or install traps along wall edges and under furniture. 

Residual chemical pesticides are the most effective and can include encapsulated insecticides or wettable powders available at most hardware stores. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging of whichever product you choose to spray a perimeter around your home's perimeter and any potential hiding spots. Insecticide powders are most effective in attic spaces.

Another effective way to kill scorpions is the application of diatomaceous earth powder or boric acid in areas where you frequently find scorpions or where you suspect they may enter your home. The substances damage a scorpion's exoskeleton, dehydrate them, and slowly poison them so they won't last long once they've entered your home.

Who to Call to Get Rid of Scorpions

If scorpions persist despite your DIY efforts, your best option is to hire a pest control service or wildlife removal company near you. Professionals will come equipped with the tools, skills, and experience to tackle a stubborn scorpion infestation.

They will carefully inspect your entire property to determine where scorpions are most likely hiding and infiltrating your home and apply targeted treatments to remove existing scorpions. They'll also provide prevention tips and continuous monitoring to deter future infestations.