Striped Bark Scorpion
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insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-1678.htmlThis is general information about scorpions. The type we mainly deal with in our area of North Texas is the Striped Bark Scorpion. Call us or consult a Pest Management Professional in your area for positive identification. Treatment may vary according to the species. These are close relatives of spiders and mites. Typical reaction to stings is similar to that of a wasp. If you feel or have any other symptoms you need to have a professional medical diagnosis. The females give birth to live nymphs, which she carries on her back for any where between a week and a month. From this point forward they go through an average of 6 molts until they reach the adult stage. This time frame could be between several months to four years. They feed mainly on spiders and small insects. If necessary, they can live up to six months without feeding. They are nocturnal and hide during the day under leaf and wood debris, under stones, inside stumps and mortar gaps or similar areas. If you live near railroad tracks, green belt area, or woods in warm climates, chances are you have dealt with or other people in your area have dealt with these pests. These areas provide good harborage areas and a plentiful food source. They are also cold blooded. A typical fall season scenario for their activity is for them to start outside, being warmed by the sun or day time temperatures then as the heat dissipates they make their way to the structures to maintain their body heat. Another scenario is they are near the structure in search of prey and make their way in through gaps under doorways or similar areas. They also enter structures in search of food and water. This is when people most likely see them near doorways on the inside. They can also be found in bathrooms, crawlspaces, attics, and shoes or clothing left near doorways. Favorite outside harborage areas include the foundation grass line, stone retaining walls, and masonry cracks.
Control is a multi step process. Try to remove as much excess leaf and wood debris to minimize harborage sites for scorpions and potential prey. Repair any gaps, cracks, or holes on the exterior of the structure to minimize entryways and harborage sites. Replace any worn, loose, or missing weather stripping around doors and windows. Also check for any worn doorway threshold areas and repair or replace as needed. Another control option is to replace exterior lighting to yellow or sodium vapor type bulbs. This will cut down on the amount of insects attracted to the structure.
For quick control of the ones you see use an aerosol product. They come in both contact and residual types. Residual products leave behind material to remain active for a further length of time. Residual products include items such as
Cy-Kick 17.5 oz. can,
Invader HPX 14 oz. can, and
D-Force HPX 14 oz. can. Contact products include items such as
PI 18 oz. can,
PT 565 Plus 20 oz. can,
CB 80 Extra 17oz.can.
Liquid residual concentrates are mixed with water at label rates as needed. This method gets the treated area to a “neutral” condition where no scorpions, spiders or insects are present. It is important to treat high areas as well as foundation areas when dealing with these pests. These pests can literally climb up the side of the structure and get through eave vents or other openings that lead to the attic. It is not uncommon for these pests to be found in 2nd story areas by way of falling through the can light covers in the attic or other locations throughout the structure. The drawback is that after 2 or 3 sprinkler cycles, a rain, or heavy dew the material is diluted to the point of ineffectiveness and nothing is there to provide continued control. If you use this method to control other pests at the same time, afterwards you may want to treat with a weather resistant particle bait such as Niban to provide continued control for pests that could serve as a steady food source.
Residual concentrate products include
Demand CS 8 oz. or
Demand CS 1 qt.,
Suspend SC 1 pt.,
Tempo SC 240 ml,
Tempo Ultra WP 420 gram btl,
Talstar Pro 1 pt. or
Talstar Pro ¾ gal,
Viper 4 oz.,
Demon WP 4-9.5 gram bags per pk,
Demon WP 1 lb. jar,
Demon EC 1 pt.,
Cy-Kick CS 1 pt. or
Cy-Kick CS 120 oz..
Viper RTU is a ready to use pre mixed product in a 1 gal. Container with a handy sprayer attached to a 1-foot hose. These materials can be applied with a
1 gal. Poly Sprayer or a
2 gal. Poly Sprayer.
For foundation perimeter application or yard application use a
Gilmour Hose End Sprayer Model 486 or a
Gilmour Hose End Sprayer Model 362. A lot of these products are labeled for inside use as well. Treat the baseboards, bottom of exterior doorways, and garage areas for control. This will need to be done on a monthly basis until control is reached. Control may take several months of dedicated efforts and cannot be reached by interior service alone. Maximum control will be achieved by sealing outside areas to prevent their entry.
Before applying the liquid residual around the foundation perimeter apply insecticide dust in the weep holes and other void areas such as gaps, cracks, holes or other areas along the outside to control pests running to these areas in escape of the liquid treatments. Another great area to apply the dust is to the cap board just below the eaves. The insecticide dust in these areas is best applied with a
Crusader Hand Duster. For added control seal any gap areas besides weep holes with caulk. The attic should also be treated to minimize that area as a regular harborage area. A
Gilmour 1 lb. Hand Duster Model D1 can be used to apply the dust. Insecticde Dust products include
Delta Dust 1 lb. btl,
Delta Dust 5 lb. btl,
Borid 1 lb. btl , or
Borid 5lb. btl. The dust works by applying a light amount in the target area. The pest then walks across it, picks it up on their body and ingests the dust as they groom themselves. The dust is a stomach poison and control is completed in this manner. If too big of a placement is applied they will avoid the area.
Copper mesh in the weep holes is a good way to minimize pest entryways into this area. Since it is made of copper it won’t leave streaks down the foundation and the mesh is wide enough to allow adequate ventilation behind the bricks. This includes products such as
Stuff-fit Copper Mesh 20 ft. roll,
Stuf-fit Copper Mesh 20 ft. Precut, and
Stuf-fit Copper Mesh 100 ft. Roll.
Use these Niban particle bait products for the foundation grass line, landscape areas, and/or yard areas to control roaches, ants, crickets, and earwigs that serve as a steady food source. These sizes are more suited to outside applications
Niban Insect Bait 5 lb. Shaker Bag, or
Niban Insect Bait 40 lb. Bag. Particle baits are best applied with a
14 oz. Centro Bulb Duster. We also carry a handy
Bulb Duster Filler Funnel. Remember the particles are weather resistant through up to 4 inches of water. This bait works well through sprinkler cycles, rain, or heavy dew.
Another control method is insecticide granules. These materials include
Talstar PL 25 lb bag and
Delta Gard 20 lb. bag. These products are applied with a hand spreader such as a
Scotts Handy Green 2 Hand Spreader. These materials work well when applied and even better when watered in. They are applied at the foundation perimeter and yard areas. The Talstar PL is a repellent type of product that may be used to discourage pest activity in to treated areas for a few days or until it is diluted to the point of ineffectiveness due to sprinkler cycles, rain, or heavy dew.
Glueboards are a good tool to use because they serve to control the pests, monitor for activity, and if any are found observe which way the pest is captured. Use plenty of these throughout the structure. They can even be folded over to place behind drapes, large items, or other similar areas. This will allow you to backtrack to find possible harborage areas or entryways. We carry
Catchmaster CM MB 72 72 ct box,
Catchmaster CM MB 72 8 ct pk, or
Trapper LTD 72 ct box. Another great product is a
Trapper Pest Monitor each or
Trapper Pest Monitor 12/case. This is a low profile plastic box that will hold a Pest Monitor Glueboard.
Pest Monitor Glueboards are packaged 6/pk or
48/box.
Always read and follow label directions. For additional information call Do It Yourself Pest Control Supplies at 972-562-9999, 903-891-8818, or 866-562-8999.
