Scorpions are tough! They have been around for 435 million years. And if scorpions find a comfortable home in your house – they aren’t going to move out!
Scorpions mate at any time. They give birth to live baby scorpions – and they can live for up to 4 years. And unless you take control – the matter will only get worse over time. So you want to prevent them from coming inside in the first place.
Once you find scorpions in your yard or house, you will want to find the best insecticide for scorpions – and this is where we can help.
Our research has picked out 5 of the top insecticides to get rid of scorpions, and here are our results:
- CSI Cyzmic CS Controlled Release Insecticide
- Cy-Kick CS Pest Control Insecticide
- Raid Max Spider & Scorpion Killer
- Onslaught FastCap Spider and Scorpion Insecticide Pint
- Terro Scorpion Killer Aerosol Spray
Scorpions are hard to kill. They don’t just roll over and die when you use insecticides lethal to other less stubborn pests, which means that you will have to take extra precautions when using powerful insecticides that will kill scorpions. The instructions on the packaging need to be followed with care to protect yourself and your family.
But you do need to get rid of scorpions. Their sting is venomous and painful – and a few species can be fatal, especially to children. Scorpions need to feed – and they feed on other insects that are likely to be pests. When you eliminate their food supply, they are less inclined to settle down in dark places in your home. So getting rid of cockroaches, ants and crickets is a worthwhile task.
What are Scorpions?
Scorpions are arachnids – in other words, they have eight legs. They also have an upturned tail with a sting in it and grasping pincers. They are adaptable, although they prefer hot, dry places.
These predators live on insects, using their pincers to grab prey and kill with either the pincers or their poisonous tails. When scorpions are courting, they hold each other with their pincers and “dance” around. The females give birth to mini- scorpions, carrying them on their back until their exoskeleton has hardened enough for them to climb off and become independent. The exoskeleton of scorpions glows blue when in UV light.
How to Get Rid of Scorpions
First, you need to make the environment as uninviting as possible for scorpions.
The Yard
Remove any rubbish – rotting leaves, firewood, mulch, boulders, etc. Prune the bushes and remove the cut branches.
Entry Points to Your Home
Scorpions can squeeze in through the tiniest of gaps only ⅛” and gain entry through drains and pipes. To find out how to seal up your home, check out this 8-minute YouTube video here:
You could try fixing sticky boards along the edges of walls and under furniture.
Scorpions hate some essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint, cedar, and cinnamon. You could try spraying them along likely entry points.
Where to find and locate scorpions
What Do Scorpions Like?
Scorpions Like Darkness
Scorpions are nocturnal creatures, and you might find them lurking in basements and under leaves and stones outside. But they can roam around your home, seeking out dark corners in which to hide.
Although, they do glow in the dark!
If you shine a black light (UV light) onto them, they shine with a blue glow.
Scorpions Need Water
The point of entry might be drains and pipes. A favorite place for scorpions is the bathroom or kitchen. Rotting leaves provide a dark, damp hideout for scorpions.
Scorpions Need to Eat
Scorpions eat insects and spiders primarily. They also eat other scorpions. Where food is plentiful, the scorpions linger. Choosing the best insecticide for scorpions might mean a pesticide that also kills its prey.
Scorpions Like to Hide
Look under cupboards and under the sink (especially if it is damp there). Sometimes a pile of clothes might hide them – and cracks around windows, doors, and baseboards provide shelter and access.
How to Kill Scorpions
You need to find the best insecticide for scorpions because they are not the most straightforward pest to kill. Also, many pesticides that are lethal to other insects do not kill scorpions.
Some chemical pesticides that do work are those containing Cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, permethrin, and tralomethrin. You might try applying them to the outside of your house as recommended by the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program.
You might like to monitor your progress by using a scorpion glue trap. Scorpions get stuck to the glue, so if you place lures near dark, damp areas and you find scorpions trapped, then you know you need to bring out the powerful insecticides.
How to Use Scorpion Killer Spray
When you find a scorpion inside your home, you need to spray it directly for contact killing, but you also need to spray areas where other scorpions might be lurking.
These include:
- Spaces under your cupboards and appliances.
- Behind the toilets.
- Under the sinks.
- Around window frames and doorways.
- In any cracks and crevices.
- Along the skirting boards.
- Basements and garages.
- In the corners of rooms.
Now let’s look at five of the top insecticides and find the best insecticide for scorpions.
CSI Cyzmic CS Controlled Release Insecticide
Long-term release – lethal to many pests.
CSI is a relative newcomer to the field and uses modern technology to eliminate scorpions and other pests. The powerful insecticide used is lambda-cyhalothrin.
Some of the insecticide is released straight away for immediate effect. However, the rest releases over time which gives broader coverage and a far longer-lasting effect. It kills spiders and many other pests, as well as scorpions.
But what makes Cyzmic CS different is its variable capsule release technology. It allows some capsules to release right away for maximum knockdown power. Then, the remaining encapsulated pyrethrins are released over time to offer exceptional long-term control.
Pros
- Effective – kills short and long term
- Latest technology – microencapsulated insecticide for sustained release
Cons
- May clog equipment
- Might need repeated treatments if you are targeting fleas or ticks
Cy-Kick CS Pest Control Insecticide
Packs a huge punch, used by professionals.
Cy-Kick contains Cyfluthrin as the active ingredient. It is potent and kills cockroaches, spiders (even tarantulas), and many other insects. It remains effective for up to 90 days.
Cy-Kick is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, but great care should be taken when using it. The 16 oz bottle of concentrate will make 12-16 gallons of the insecticide. But you will need a pump-up sprayer to apply it. It is, however, an extremely effective scorpion killer, provided you follow the manufactures instructions carefully. You will need to keep children and pets well away until it is completely dried.
Pros
- It kills many insect pests
- Kills on contact
- Inside and outside use
- 90-day residual effect
Cons
- Very toxic when wet
Raid Max Spider & Scorpion Killer
The fine spray contact killer.
This powerful insecticide uses deltamethrin as its killer ingredient – and it remains effective, though less so, for up to 6 months. Raid has a worldwide reputation for its insect brands. It is effective against many insect pests, including 30 types of spiders, even the black widow.
Raid Spider and Scorpion Killer, designed for indoor and outdoor use, kills on contact, although there may be a slight delay before you see the results. It will not damage your walls but do give it a good shake before you use it.
Pros
- Kills on contact
- For use indoors and outdoors
- No CFCs
Cons
- Contact killer but may not kill immediately
- Residual effect less strong
Onslaught FastCap Spider and Scorpion Insecticide
Slaughters the scorpions and stops them from infesting your home.
Onslaught FastCap Spider and Scorpion Insecticide has a unique formula. Esfenvalerate 6.40%, Prallethrin 1.60%, and Piperonyl butoxide 8.00% are combined to give a fast and effective pest killer, indoors and outside.
While this is not an organic insecticide, the manufacturers say it is safe for children and pets once completely dried. You should avoid getting it on your skin and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. It is easy to use since you do not have to mix it with water.
Pros
- It can be used in food spaces
- Safe for children and pets when completely dry
- Indoor and outdoor use
Cons
- Avoid contact with the skin
TERRO Scorpion Killer Aerosol Spray
The ready to use quick killer spray.
This aerosol spray comes ready for instant use. Prallethrin is the active ingredient, so the effects are fast; you buy, spray, and kill. However, although it will protect your home for six weeks, the results do not last as long as some of the other pesticides – so you might like to use this together with an insecticide that maybe doesn’t have the immediate effect but lasts longer.
The unique nozzle with an extension tube allows you to squirt it into cracks or give wider spray. You can use Terro inside and outside, and it also kills many other pests, including cockroaches and black widow spiders.
Pros
- Quick-acting
- The extension tube allows you to spray into crevices
Cons
- Residual effects less strong
Conclusion
Scorpions are hard to kill. The most effective insecticides are also powerful, and you need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully when you use them, both indoors and outside.
- Use Cy-Kick when bed bugs, fleas and other hard to eliminate pests are indoors
- Target pests: All types of household and commercial pests including ants, bed bugs, roaches, spiders, earwigs, crickets, centipedes, beetles, and more.
- Broadcast Spray, Crack & Crevice, Spot Treatment
- Cy-Kick is safe to use around children and pets when applied according to the product label
- Use Cy-Kick when bed bugs, fleas and other hard to eliminate pests are indoors
BASF - 59014457 Cy-Kick CS Pest Control Insecticide 16 oz Pint is a proven and potent pesticide – one of the best insecticides to get rid of scorpions and many other insect pests. We liked the adjustable nozzle that the TERRO Scorpion Killer Aerosol Spray offers, but you would need to respray at intervals.
If you wanted to monitor how effective the treatment was, you could use scorpion traps to check, and if they are clear for three weeks – then you can rest easy.
In our opinion, the best insecticide for scorpions is the CSI Cyzmic CS Controlled Release Insecticide. It acts fast, but the slow release mechanism means that the residual effects will give you long-lasting protection from these scary pests.
Q&A
Can scorpion stings kill humans?
Scorpions sting their prey, and the venom immobilizes them before the scorpion kills. The sting can hurt a human, but in the USA will not usually kill a healthy adult.
Children might be more susceptible as they have smaller bodies and immature livers to detoxify the poison. However, some dangerous species of the scorpion could kill an adult.
What types of scorpions are there?
There are more than 2,500 species of scorpion! Fortunately, most of them are not lethal to adult humans, but the fearsome Deathstalker is one to be avoided. There are 22 families of scorpions around today.