Scorpions, arachnids with a distinctive tail and stinger, are unwelcome guests in any home, primarily due to the painful sting some species can deliver. Found across various environments, these nocturnal predators seek shelter, moisture, and prey. Understanding what scorpions actively avoid provides a blueprint for making your living space inhospitable. Effective strategies involve chemical deterrents, environmental modification, and physical exclusion.
Specific Scents and Substances Scorpions Avoid
Scorpions use their sense of smell to navigate and detect danger, making strong odors an effective deterrent. Many species avoid the potent aromas of certain essential oils, such as cedarwood, lavender, peppermint, and cinnamon, which have sharp, intense fragrances.
To create a repellent spray, mix 10 to 20 drops of a chosen essential oil per cup of water and apply it near entry points and baseboards. Cedarwood oil is particularly effective, and planting lavender around the foundation can act as a natural, long-term barrier. This method requires frequent reapplication, as the scents dissipate quickly, especially outdoors.
Beyond scents, fine powders like Diatomaceous Earth (DE) act as a physical irritant. DE is a natural powder made from the fossilized remains of diatoms. It works by causing physical damage to the scorpion’s exoskeleton. When a scorpion walks through a light dusting of DE, the microscopic, sharp particles scratch the protective outer layer, leading to severe dehydration and eventual death. For maximum effect, apply the powder in tight, dry spaces like cracks and crevices, as scorpions may otherwise lift their bodies to avoid contact.
Environmental Factors That Drive Scorpions Away
Scorpions are drawn to areas that offer dark, protected shelter, often seeking refuge from the heat during the day. Eliminating their preferred habitat drives them away from the immediate vicinity of a home. This involves removing clutter and debris that provides hiding spots, such as piles of logs, rocks, bricks, or yard waste.
Scorpions seek hydration and are attracted to moisture because they are prone to water loss. Make the environment less appealing by fixing leaky pipes, ensuring proper drainage around the foundation, and using dehumidifiers in damp areas like basements and crawl spaces. Keeping the yard well-maintained, including trimming bushes and branches away from the house walls, removes potential bridges scorpions use to climb onto the structure.
Since scorpions are nocturnal hunters, managing outdoor lighting can reduce their presence. They are attracted to the insects that swarm around bright outdoor lights. Replace standard bulbs with yellow or sodium vapor lights to help mitigate this. Position outdoor lights so they shine away from the house’s entry points to discourage scorpions and their prey from approaching.
Structural Methods for Complete Exclusion
Even if the environment is unappealing, scorpions can still enter a dwelling unless physically blocked. Structural exclusion is the most permanent solution, recognizing that scorpions are flat and can squeeze through incredibly small openings. Any gap around the home’s perimeter that is the width of a credit card or larger should be sealed to prevent entry.
A thorough inspection should focus on sealing cracks in the foundation, walls, and stucco using a high-quality sealant or caulk. Utility entry points, such as those for plumbing and electrical wiring, must be carefully sealed where they pass through the exterior walls. Install tight-fitting door sweeps on all exterior doors to eliminate gaps beneath them, and ensure all window and door screens are in excellent repair.
For structures with weep holes in brick or stone veneer, plug these openings with fine mesh screening, like aluminum window screen. This allows the wall to breathe but blocks pest access. Checking and sealing gaps around roof eaves, vents, and attic access points is also necessary, as scorpions can use overhanging branches or utility lines to gain access.