If you have experience about scorpions please comment. Currently in Yuma AZ on RV lot. I'm supposed to take out a small section Aloe Vera plants (2 feet wide and 6 feet long) growing next to our shed that is real old and falling apart. So going to put in new and bigger shed, so plants got to go. Started ripping the aloe vera out and was greeted by couple very small scorpions, maybe 1 or 1 1/2 long, very clear in color. Tried looking up on google and found info on about everything except how to make them move. In the past I've lived in areas that bears were sometimes a problem and if you left them alone they would leave you alone usually. I tend to think scorpions are the same way. But don't know for sure. Does this sound reasonable? Being they like the desert, I'm thinking about watering the aloe vera plants, lots and lots of water and they won't like that there area has been turned into rain forest and will move on. If they do move on, are they like mice and can make it to inside of RV?Is that a good plan or do you know something else that will work.P.S. wife is going nuts. I just want to them to go away and not into RV.

Here in Florida I kill every scorpion I can find and will resort to insecticide when needed. I do not intend to cohabitate with noxious bugs. YMMV

I live in Tucson, and scorpions are a way of life here. One good product you can buy over the counter is Raid Spider and Scorpion spray. It works very well. Whenever I'm doing yard work and may encounter a scorpion, I wear heavy leather gloves. They do a good job of protecting your hands. The majority of scorpions we see are during the rainy season when they are thriving. I don't think watering the plants will affect them much. The scorpions you are describing are probably bark scorpions. They can be dangerous, but for most adults, it just hurts like hell when you get stung. I've been stung several times over the years with no ill effects. Folks with health problems, elderly and kids should seek treatment if they get stung.

I hear that you can use a UV light at night. Contact your local hardware store, they will have both the black light, and the stuff to kill the bugs. If you are in a RV resort, they might not like you spreading pesticides, especially because of the MSDS requirements under OSHA laws, they can not have chemicals on the property without a Material Safety Data Sheet. So if someone is exposed to a chemical, then they must have a MSDS to take with the injured person to the hospital. Just showing up with a chemical and the MSDS will not work all that well, the property owner might not want certain things on the property. Good luck!Fred.

As far as a sting, I've been hit twice by Florida scorpions. Very much like a Wasp sting, nothing more.

path1 wrote:If you have experience about scorpions please comment. Currently in Yuma AZ on RV lot. I'm supposed to take out a small section Aloe Vera plants (2 feet wide and 6 feet long) growing next to our shed that is real old and falling apart. So going to put in new and bigger shed, so plants got to go. Started ripping the aloe vera out and was greeted by couple very small scorpions, maybe 1 or 1 1/2 long, very clear in color. Tried looking up on google and found info on about everything except how to make them move. In the past I've lived in areas that bears were sometimes a problem and if you left them alone they would leave you alone usually. I tend to think scorpions are the same way. But don't know for sure. Does this sound reasonable? Being they like the desert, I'm thinking about watering the aloe vera plants, lots and lots of water and they won't like that there area has been turned into rain forest and will move on. If they do move on, are they like mice and can make it to inside of RV?Is that a good plan or do you know something else that will work.P.S. wife is going nuts. I just want to them to go away and not into RV.The poor Scorpion is just trying to eke out an existence on this planet just like we are. I have had lots of experience with them in SE Asia and other places. Personally I see no need to poison the poor things...they are shy, generally afraid and dont bother people unless you bother them. Let them have their habitat and they are unlikely to invade yours.However if you do find one in the house the best way to deal with it is this: get a small stick, wave the stick in front of the scorpion until its claws grab it. Then pick it up by it's stinger end and carry the poor frightened thing outside and put it on the ground away from the house. This is how I and all my household staff dealt with scorpions in SE Asia. Learning to live with the earths creatures without poisoning them and killing them needlessly helps keep things in balance.

Scorpions and Aloe Vera plants... Help!!...Questions

15 Replies

path1
Explorer
Feb 24, 2015
OP here...Problem solved!! This guy came by walking his dog and wonder what I was doing. Got chatting and told him I was taking out the aloe vera to make room for bigger shed but was not happy with scorpions. I show him the mashed ones and he said "no problem, here I'll do it". Grabbed my shovel and he went 10-8. 20 min later we were kicking back having a cold one. I felt like I had "Damsel in distress" syndrome. But that's OK with me. I'll stick to bears.

You can have all the moose and scorpions you want.
bukhrn
Explorer III
Feb 23, 2015
fla-gypsy gets my vote, same goes for wasps, & snakes.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Feb 23, 2015
x2
I think saying they are not harmful is a dangerous statement.

There are MANY people who will go into anaphalactic shock from the sting from even the smallest scorpion and in some instances can kill smaller pets for the same reason if you don't have an epi pen right there to use.

And sadly many people won't know 'until' they are bit by one. So IMHO it is better to be safe than sorry. Just saying.
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Feb 23, 2015
Do they look like this?

This is a Bark scorpion, albeit one of the largest I have ever seen. Most are much smaller but....

They are very dangerous. The Bark is the most poisonous scorpion in North America. Their sting can kill a small child or pet and even adults with a compromised immune system are at risk. I have a friend who lives out in the desert outside of Tucson who was stung three times (yes, they can and do get into your home or RV.

The first time on the hand - he looked like Mickey Mouse for a week; once on the foot - could not walk for a week and the third time....

The Bark had crawled into a bathroom drawer and nestled in his hairbrush. Yep, the second pass through his hair with the brush and the Bark got him on the top of his head.
Said it felt like he'd been struck by lightning,dropped him to his knees and he was unable to function for several minutes, blurred vision, severe dizziness.

When he regained his senses there was the Bark still in the hairbrush. Needless to say he dispatched the little bugger to scorpion heaven with extreme prejudice.

Bottom line, they are nothing you want to have anywhere near you and yours. Don't let their diminutive size fool you. However you decide to deal with them exercise extreme caution.

:E
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Feb 22, 2015
4X4Dodger wrote:
path1 wrote:
Thanks...my game plan is to get some diatamacious earth. I think it is used also used in swimming pools. Will put some out and postpone project until next week. Give them time to move out or die. I really hate killing anything but better them than me.

I've been reading up on scorpions...what a hardy critter. Can slow down its own metabolism and some only need one meal a YEAR, not day or month but a year. No wonder they been around so long.

Thanks to all

They wont KILL you. While their sting is painful and can result in swelling most of them on this continent are fairly benign. They are an amazing creature and I am not sure why having them in your Aloe plants is a problem...They generally will avoid houses as they have predators (dogs and cats)

...but again all you have to do is avoid them.
I think the op is concerned about having to move the plants they are in. Hard to avoid them and move the plants they are living in.
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Feb 22, 2015
path1 wrote:
Thanks...my game plan is to get some diatamacious earth. I think it is used also used in swimming pools. Will put some out and postpone project until next week. Give them time to move out or die. I really hate killing anything but better them than me.

I've been reading up on scorpions...what a hardy critter. Can slow down its own metabolism and some only need one meal a YEAR, not day or month but a year. No wonder they been around so long.

Thanks to all

They wont KILL you. While their sting is painful and can result in swelling most of them on this continent are fairly benign. They are an amazing creature and I am not sure why having them in your Aloe plants is a problem...They generally will avoid houses as they have predators (dogs and cats)

...but again all you have to do is avoid them.
Ductape
Explorer
Feb 22, 2015
Boraxo detergent works as well as diatomaceous earth and is easier to find and cheaper.
path1
Explorer
Feb 22, 2015
Thanks...my game plan is to get some diatamacious earth. I think it is used also used in swimming pools. Will put some out and postpone project until next week. Give them time to move out or die. I really hate killing anything but better them than me.

I've been reading up on scorpions...what a hardy critter. Can slow down its own metabolism and some only need one meal a YEAR, not day or month but a year. No wonder they been around so long.

Thanks to all
TexasShadow
Explorer II
Feb 21, 2015
Use diatamacious earth against them . It is effective against exoskeleton critters.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Feb 21, 2015
Steeljag wrote:
As far as a sting, I've been hit twice by Florida scorpions. Very much like a Wasp sting, nothing more.

It IS a whole lot more if you have allergic reaction to wasps!

Because those tiny scorpions will stop you from breathing in the same manner that a bee or wasp sting can. Been there done that.

To the OP: NO they won't just go away. They will stay and start multiplying and entering your home. You need to either call a bug man and have him spray for them or do some research as to what bug spray you should use.