What Do Scorpions Eat?
A scorpion’s diet isn’t quite what you think
Understanding the cause of a scorpion infestation can help you eliminate it more quickly and effectively. It probably won’t surprise you to know that scorpions are driven inside for the same reason many other pests come indoors—food and water. So, what do scorpions eat? Read on to find out how you’re unintentionally feeding the local scorpion population in your own home and how to find scorpion control near you.
What does a Scorpion eat?
A scorpion’s diet very much depends on its size. At about 5.5″ long, the Arizona desert hairy scorpion can enjoy much larger prey than the bark scorpion, which measures less than .5″ long. While their jumbo counterparts can eat mice and small lizards and snakes, most scorpions feast on worms and spiders as well as crickets and other insects. The fact that they don’t have to eat more than a few times a week makes survival relatively easy. Not venturing out for food often also means they can go unnoticed in your home for longer than many other pests.
What do bark scorpions eat?
Bark scorpions’ small size makes them easy targets for larger predators like tarantulas, reptiles, large centipedes and birds. And, of course, these scorpions are restricted to eating smaller prey. While they aren’t able to feast on rodents and other large prey, they do eat the following pests:
- Spiders
- Centipedes
- Cockroaches
- Other scorpions
While bark scorpions may rid your home of other pests, they’re also the only scorpions in the U.S. with venom poisonous enough to seriously injure humans. While deaths are rare, children and older people can experience intense pain, difficulty breathing, high blood pressure and other dangerous symptoms from the bite of a bark scorpion.
What do scorpions eat in the desert?
Lack of water is a bigger problem than finding food for scorpions in the desert. These arachnids can go for much longer without food than water. Since most insects also require a regular water source for survival, though, the usual flies, beetles, and other bugs can be scarcer in the desert. That makes survival harder for desert scorpions, too, so they’ll often grab the first prey they can find. Scorpions kill their prey by crushing them with their pincers.
Scorpion Prevention
While an existing infestation calls for professional help, you can easily help prevent future invasions with a few simple precautions. Try these tips to avoid attracting the pests that scorpions feed on:
- Replace worn weatherstripping
- Bring food in after an outdoor pet eats
- Seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior
- Always clean up spills and crumbs immediately
- Cover vents and other openings with mesh screens
Get everyone in your household on board with staying on top of kitchen messes. The idea of keeping creepy crawlers of all kinds at bay should provide sufficient motivation!
Scorpion Control from Pest Professionals
Never handle a scorpion. If you spot scorpions of any size on your property, call for professional pest control instead. Responsible Pest and Scorpion Control provides Arizona residences and business owners with safe, effective scorpion control services. Our proven strategies help eliminate scorpions and the pests that attract them for good. From one-time and “flush-out” services to quarterly visits, we have pest and scorpion control plans to suit your needs. Contact us online today or call for immediate help with the pest problems plaguing your home or workplace.
