How to Naturally Deter Scorpions

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If you live in an arid climate, especially somewhere in the southwestern United States like Arizona, chances are you’re living alongside scorpions. These little critters rarely enter homes, but it can give you quite a fright if you see one a little too close for comfort! Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep them away.

Here are 11 effective, all-natural ways to deter scorpions from your home.

1

Light citric candles.

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    Light some citric candles around your home or outside in your yard. Do this every day for a few weeks or a month to see if it makes a difference in the number of scorpions you see. [1]
    • You can also try spraying citrus oils on surfaces to repel scorpions. Mix about 20 drops of essential lemon oil with a couple cups of water in a spray bottle and spray it wherever you want to deter scorpions from going.
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2

Try planting lavender.

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    Plant lavender around the perimeter of your home or yard to repel scorpions naturally. Or, plant lavender in certain areas where you tend to see scorpions on your property. [2]
    • You can also try making a lavender spray by mixing a couple cups of water and 20 drops or so of lavender essential oil in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto any surfaces or areas you want to repel scorpions from.
3

Get some chickens.

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    Keep a few chickens on your property and let them roam freely. Watch them happily peck away at the ground as they scour it for bugs, reducing the natural food supply for scorpions! [3]
    • Chickens may also try to eat any scorpions they come across if they’re still coming onto your property.
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4

Clear your property of debris.

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    Clean up yard waste like piles of leaves and brush. Get rid of stacks of rocks or lumber as well. Move wood piles at least 50 ft (15 m) away from your home. [4]
    • Scorpions hide out in dark places during the day and come out at night to hunt. [5]
    • Wear long-sleeved clothing and gloves when you’re cleaning up your property in case there are any scorpions hiding in piles of debris.
5

Keep trees trimmed away from your home.

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    Prune trees so their branches are not touching the sides of your home. That way, scorpions are less likely to find their way into your attic or through an open window. [6]
    • Scorpions sometimes like to hang out in the shade underneath trees. Be careful when you’re pruning in case there are any nearby.
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6

Clean up food scraps.

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    Always sweep up crumbs, spilled pet food, and other scraps from inside and outside your home. Dispose of food scraps in a sealed trash can where insects can’t get to it. [7]
    • If you have fruit trees, clean up any fallen fruit around your yard so it doesn’t rot and attract bugs.
7

Fill cracks and crevices in your home.

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    Walk slowly around the outside of your home and look for holes and gaps, especially around windows, doors, and the foundation. [8] Seal everything up with caulk or spray foam. [9]
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8

Put yellow light bulbs in your outdoor lights.

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    Change all your outdoor light bulbs to warm, yellow bulbs to attract fewer bugs. Leave your lights off when you’re not using them. [11]
    • Note that yellow light doesn’t deter insects, it just attracts them less than white light does.
9

Catch and relocate scorpions.

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    Wear protective clothing and gloves when hunting for scorpions. Pick a scorpion up with a long pair of kitchen tongs and pit it inside a jar. Seal the jar securely and transport the scorpion far away to an undisturbed natural habitat. [12]
    • Scorpions come out more at night and they glow in the dark under black UV light. Buy a black light and go looking for scorpions at night to find more that you can catch and relocate.
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10

Fix any leaks in your plumbing.

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    Fix leaky pipes so less water accumulates in and around your home for scorpions to drink. Repair leaky faucets and any other leaks in your home. [13]
    • If you have any roof leaks, fix those as well so water doesn’t accumulate in your attic.
    • If you have pets, leave water dishes empty at night or elevate them somewhere that scorpions can’t reach them.
11

Get rid of insects that scorpions eat.

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    Check for infestations of things like termites, spiders, cockroaches, and other bugs. Kill them with pesticide or call a pest control company to deal with the problem. [14]
    • Scorpions eat just about any small insect, but they especially love crickets, ants, and cockroaches.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Where do scorpions hide in the house?
    Samuel Ramsey, PhD
    Entomologist
    Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”
    Samuel Ramsey, PhD
    Entomologist
    Expert Answer
    Scorpions hide in dark places such as basements or under the beds. They sit in things that have not been moved or used for a long time, like old shoes.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7
  • Question
    How do you prevent scorpions from entering the house?
    Samuel Ramsey, PhD
    Entomologist
    Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”
    Samuel Ramsey, PhD
    Entomologist
    Expert Answer
    Seal the entry points to your home, such as cracks in the foundation or gaps under the doors.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
  • Question
    I have found peppermint oil works better than lavender. The scorpions won't cross the barrier. Has anyone else found this to be true?
    Community Answer
    Yes, I have! The scorpions won't go anywhere near it. The same is true if you use cinnamon.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://floridaindependent.com/does-lavender-keep-scorpions-away-natural-repellent/
      2. ↑ https://www.reference.com/pets-animals/lavender-repel-scorpions-28979960ad9c2b94
      3. ↑ https://bugwiz.com/get-rid-of-scorpions/
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvDi9gwXqnM&t=45s
      5. ↑ Samuel Ramsey, PhD. Entomologist. Expert Interview. 20 January 2021.
      6. ↑ https://www.austinmonthly.com/how-to-keep-your-home-scorpion-free/
      7. ↑ https://schoolofbugs.com/what-are-scorpions-attracted-to-lets-find-out/
      8. ↑ Samuel Ramsey, PhD. Entomologist. Expert Interview. 20 January 2021.
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvDi9gwXqnM&t=91s
      1. ↑ Samuel Ramsey, PhD. Entomologist. Expert Interview. 20 January 2021.
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvDi9gwXqnM&t=135s
      3. ↑ https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/scorpions2015.html
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvDi9gwXqnM&t=118s
      5. ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7364

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