Scorpions in Texas! The end of extreme hot temperatures and the arrival of humidity, means scorpion season starts! Each year, at this time, finding these creatures inside houses is not that rare and many families have to deal with these nocturnal arachnids that look for a fresh and humid refuge. In some cases, the presence of scorpions is so annoying that residents even make drastic decisions such as selling their houses. This is what a neighbor in Frisco did because she couldn’t get used to them.
As you can see, Texas is a place where many things are found. So, let’s find out more about this season and what we can do about it.
Scorpion nests at home
Even though scorpions’ most active time tends to be between July and August, it’s very common to still find them in September and during autumn. The best way to prevent an invasion of these arachnids is to remove those places where these animals can make their nests or hide.
Plague control experts explain that these arachnids enter at night looking for food or a partner. When seeking refuge, they prefer fresh areas where the sun doesn’t affect the temperature. Among their most common places to hide we find:
- Cracks and crevices inside homes.
- Garden areas with weeds or yard debris.
- Piles of firewood, lumber, or rubble.
- Fences and areas around the exterior of houses.
Frisco case
The presence of scorpions in Texas can be so bothersome that it can completely change residents’ lives, and this is what happened to Tanesha Jones, a woman from Chicago who moved to Frisco (North Texas).
At her new home, Jones started to see these arachnids too frequently (between once or twice a week). Despite placing traps at the doors and at the garage, the situation didn’t get better. So, she decided to sell the house… “I bought a new house and I’m moving. I can’t take it,” she explained in a report. “Normally I see one or two a week. Since I’m from Chicago, I’m not used to this kind of thing… Oh my God!”
Experts identified the scorpions in her house as striped bark scorpions, which is very common in Texas. These types are between 6 mm and 1 cm long, and even though they are venomous, they are not deadly: they just hunt spiders, ants, and other tiny pests.
How dangerous are these arachnids in Texas?
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), scorpions have segmented tails that end with a venomous stinger. So, their main danger is their sting.
One of these stings can cause pain and local swelling, similar to a bee sting. Even though it’s not generally serious, in allergy cases medical attention is needed.
Around the world there are 1,500 scorpion species, but only between 25 and 30 are really deadly for humans. In Texas, none of the registered species represent a deadly danger for health. So, great news, right?
Living in the scorpion season
As we mentioned before, they are not deadly, but it’s not an easy situation to face. That’s why we have some tips to reduce the risk of finding them at your house:
- Sealing cracks and crevices.
- Keeping gardens free of weeds.
- Avoiding piles of firewood or debris near the house.
Do you know why these measures work? Because they remove their favorite refuges and reduce those undesirable encounters. So, if you don’t want to end up selling your house as Tanesha Jones did, you’d better watch out and get rid of their hiding places. If you ever have to deal with this situation, we hope this article is helpful.