Scorpion Control & Treatments

Scorpions are very distinctive arthropods. Their large pinchers are used for climbing, holding prey, defense, or courtship and mating. The stinger, located at the end of the long narrow tail, is used for defense or to kill prey. Scorpions are arachnids and have eight legs like their cousins – spiders, mites, and ticks. They look a bit like small lobsters, equipped with a pair of pincers and a thin, segmented tail that curves over their back. Baby scorpions are called scorplings and are a light creamy color and look just like a scorpion but much smaller. Scorplings can sting and pose the same threats as a mature scorpion. Baby scorpions are a little harder to spot than large scorpions because they’re so small, such a light color, and they don’t glow under black light. Scorpions feed on a wide range of small animals including crickets, spiders, caterpillars, and centipedes. They have very poor vision so they often lie in wait for prey, grabbing anything that wanders into their area. Development from birth to the adult stage may take more than a year. Mature individuals, up to 2-5/8 inches long, may live for another 2 years.

Scorpions bring to mind images of deadly, aggressive creatures that live in the desert regions of the world. However, members of this interesting group can be found in a wide range of habitats. The southern devil scorpion, Vejovis carolinianus, occurs in several southeastern states, including Kentucky. They prefer crumbling rock faces, brick walls, crawl spaces, leaf-covered areas, and log piles in particular.