Is it a water scorpion in your pool?
Owning a pool makes your backyard a hit for your friends and family during those hot Arizona summers. You want to make sure that your guests are all safe, especially from uninvited critters. There are few things more unsettling than finding a scorpion going for a dive right beside you in your swimming pool, or suddenly finding yourself lounging on your pool deck next to one. You and your family can be at risk, and you may need to resort to professional pest control measures to ensure your protection.
We’ve put together a quick guide on how to prevent scorpions from getting into your yard, pool, and home. Make sure you’re up to speed on how to have a safe, fun, and scorpion-free property this year.
Why Are Scorpions in My Pool?
Scorpions generally live in hot desert climates such as Arizona. Most times, they don’t want to get into the water intentionally, but they may end up in your pool while hunting their prey. Scorpions hunt pests like bees, wasps, crickets, and other small insects. A swimming pool will attract all sorts of bugs looking to escape the heat, and scorpions are no exception.
This is the blessing and curse of having a perpetual water source in your backyard – everyone wants to cool down, including insects.
Are Scorpions Attracted to Water?
Scorpions aren’t necessarily attracted to the water in your swimming pool – they are savvy enough to find fresh water sources in most settings. Typically, scorpions would prefer to hang out in dark, cool places with a reliable source of food. However, as their prey are bound to drink (and get trapped in) your pool water, they will follow right along.
Read more: What attracts scorpions into my house?
Can Scorpions Swim?
Scorpions are not good swimmers, but they are proficient enough to survive for approximately 48 hours in water by breathing through their exoskeletons. They are able to move in water, and will often end up hiding in your pool filter if they find themselves stuck in your water. Scorpions can climb their way out of some pools, but many times end up stuck. If your home is prone to scorpions on your property (and most in Phoenix and Arizona are), we recommend checking for scorpions each time you go near your swimming pool.
What are Signs of Scorpions on Your Property?
Spotting a single scorpion is typically a strong indicator that there are more around, and you need to consider scorpion control early on. Consider the following :
- Your yard provides lots of shade for scorpions to hide in
- You have citrus trees
- There’s been an increased presence of smaller insects on your property
- You have pools of moisture – including, but not limited to, your swimming pool
Scorpions are mostly attracted to darkness, moisture, shelter, and food. Scorpions in Arizona have an intense need for most of these during the summer months when reliable sources of these things become scarce.
What to Do If You Have Scorpions in Your Pool
If you’ve seen scorpions in your pool or on your property, you need to protect you and your family by taking proper measures. We recommend:
- Wearing shoes around the pool
- Checking your pool filter for scorpions
- Looking under towels, cover-ups, or toys that have been sitting out
- Use a net to remove scorpions from your pool – even if it appears dead
- Calling professional pest control services for scorpion control
As we mentioned, one scorpion in Arizona typically means there’s more. At a minimum, taking some precautionary measures or having a pest control inspection will do wonders to prevent scorpions.
How to Prevent Scorpions in Arizona
Scorpions are looking for shade, moisture, and prey. Doing these things will help prevent scorpions from entering your yard and home:
- Remove wood piles and other debris that can provide shade from your backyard
- Trim back bushes and trees that are leaning onto your property
- Eliminate standing water that will attract scorpions and other pests
- Elevate potted plants from the ground and do not overwater them
Ultimately, scorpions aren’t naturally aggressive toward humans. However, scorpion stings are no joke, and the Arizona Bark Scorpion can pose major risk to you. It is always better to strive for a scorpion-free swimming pool, so take proper measures with professional pest control.
Scorpion Control in Phoenix, Arizona
At Insectek, our mission is to keep Arizona households safe from scorpions and pests. We have decades of experience getting rid of scorpions in pools and providing treatment for scorpion infestations.
If you’re looking to get high-quality scorpion pest control today, please reach out to us. We’d love to help keep you and your family swimming stress-free all summer.
