How to Kill Scorpions: Top 10 Most Effective Scorpion Killers

By the time you start researching scorpion killers and tips and tricks on how to kill scorpions – it’s established. You’ve had one eight-legged intruder too many and you’re ready to defend your home and family.

Because finding just one scorpion in your home is disturbing, but you can chalk it up to happenstance and the hot weather you’ve been getting lately. But several scorpions?

That means there’s a scorpion storm brewing and you need to bring the fight to them.

It’s time to start the massacre. But which scorpion killers are going to serve as the best tools in your arsenal? Here is a breakdown of the most effective scorpion killers you can throw at them!

What Kills Scorpions?

There are a lot of things that kill scorpions. A hard book should do it. Even your shoe will suffice in a pinch. Good old water works, too – you can drown the suckers.

But you don’t want to just kill scorpions, you want to do it in the fastest, most effective way possible. Which is why we’re here – to direct you to the best scorpion killers on the market.

Before we get started, you should know that all the scorpion killers out there fall into several categories:

• Scorpion Spray. An easy-to-use contact scorpion killer that you can deploy anytime you see a scorpion.

• Scorpion Insecticides. Professional-grade pesticides that don’t kill on contact but provide long-term scorpion control for your home and perimeter.

• Scorpion Powders. Scorpions can’t fly so they must crawl to get into your home, which is why scorpion powders can be so effective in killing scorpions that come into contact with it. The best part? Most scorpion powders are all natural.

• Tools to Kill Scorpions. Sometimes, you’ll need to kill a scorpion manually and that’s when you’re going to need the best tools for doing so.

Each one has their pros and cons and best use cases. We’re going to cover them all.

Yes, it will be a lengthy article but by the end, you will be a master of scorpion warfare. Let’s get to it.

What is the Best Scorpion Spray?

When it comes to scorpion killers, an easy-to-use scorpion spray is a must-have.

And if you live in scorpion territory – we’re looking at you, Arizonians, Nevadans, Texans, New Mexicans, and Australians – every home should have at least one bottle of this stuff.

So which are the best ones? Here are the only 3 you’ll ever need.

Terro Scorpion Killer Spray

If you can only choose one scorpion spray, it should be the Terro Scorpion Spray. It is not only incredibly effective, but is also very versatile and the most user-friendly scorpion pesticide for your home.

Here’s what it can do in a nutshell:

• Use it indoors and outdoors
• Kills scorpions on contact
• Continues to kill scorpions for up to 6 weeks

As you can see, this spray works for pretty much every scorpion situation. If you see a scorpion, you spray it. It isn’t immediate – it takes a minute or two for it to die – but it is effective. If the scorpion you find is hiding in a hard-to-reach spot, you can use the precision spray nozzle to get to it.

On top of all that, the spray has a residual effect. So you can use it as a preventative spray around places where scorpions like to live. It’ll continue to kill any scorpions that make contact with it for up to six weeks. It doesn’t stain so it makes a great spray-and-leave-it kind of spray.

Black Flag Spider and Scorpion Killer

Here’s another heavy-hitting scorpion killer spray that’s also very user-friendly. This spray is lethal for all arachnids – spiders and scorpions alike. But we especially like it for scorpions because it releases a thick stream that shoots quite far, making it the perfect contact spray.

The product uses a paraffin-like base and comes out foamy so it forms a sort of cocoon around the scorpion. It doesn’t kill instantly, but once a scorpion is covered in the spray, its fate is sealed.

Here are a couple important points:

• Use both indoors and outdoors
• Sprays up to 5 feet
• Kills scorpions on contact
• Continues to kill for up to 16 weeks

The only downside is that the spray is quite thick so despite its long-lasting effects, you may not want to use it as indoors as residual protection. Unlike the Terro Scorpion Killer above, this product can leave a trace. It’ll also be more challenging to treat larger surface areas because the spray stream is thick and aggressive, rather than a fine aerosol.

Overall, this is a great scorpion killer spray to use for targeted killings as well as to provide months of residual protection in scorpion hiding spots outdoors.

Harris Scorpion Killer

If you’re like most people and would rather stick sticks in your eyes than actually approach, handle or otherwise interact with a scorpion, then the Harris Scorpion Killer may be the answer for you.

It’s as close as you get to a professional scorpion insecticide while being very easy for the average person to use.

This spray isn’t for killing scorpions on contact. Rather, it’s best used as a perimeter spray to protect your home and lawn from scorpions. Here’s how it works:

• Can use indoors and outdoors
• Use the trigger sprayer that is provided to treat scorpion hiding places and access points to your house
• Once the spray dries, it kills any scorpions that come into contact with it

As such, this spray makes the perfect perimeter spray. You won’t have to go searching for scorpions. You simply spray, let dry, and then re-apply every month (or longer). Any scorpions that cross this odorless, non-staining formula dies before it has a chance to take up residence in your home.

What is the Best Insecticide for Scorpions?

There are a great many different pesticides on the market that deal with scorpions effectively, each with different chemicals, ingredients and claims to natural elements.

We’re going to introduce you to only the best ones. Because if you’re going to go through the hassle of mixing and spraying a professional insecticide for scorpions, it better solve the problem, right? Right.

So here are the only ones you’ll ever need.

Cy-Kick CS

If you’re going to get just one professional-grade scorpion killer spray for your home, this one is it. It is hands down one of the most effective insecticides for scorpions as well as the insects that scorpions eat. So it has a double whammy effect in eliminating scorpions from your property.

How do you use it?

This spray is not a contact killer. You won’t have to actively seek out any scorpions and you do not use it to spray individual scorpions to death.

When it comes to the Cy-Kick CS, think “perimeter.” You want to focus on applying it in the way that scorpions will need to cross the product at some point. When scorpions make contact with the product, it won’t kill them instantly so you may observe scorpions acting strangely, as if they are drunk, until they eventually die.

Here are the most useful areas to spray this insecticide outdoors as a perimeter spray:

• A 3-foot perimeter around the entire house
• The base of the house outside
• At least 3 feet up all external walls
• Around all the windows, window sashes and doors
• In gravel areas with rocks and stones for scorpions to hide under
• Any cracks and crevices in the exterior of the house that is big enough to slide a credit card into
• In places outside where you find scorpions hiding

Is it safe to use?

You can also use Cy-Kick CS indoors. Its active ingredient is Cyfluthrin, which is a pyrethroid-based insecticide that is considered low toxicity and has been classified as “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans” by the EPA.

It’s also safe around pets and children once the product has dried.

That being said, it may not even be necessary for you to spray Cy-Kick CS indoors unless your scorpion infestation is severe. Even in that case, you don’t need to douse your home with this insecticide. Do not use it similarly to a fogger. Instead, focus on these indoor areas:

• Floor edges and baseboards
• Wall corners up to the ceiling
• Around plumbing pipes

How often should you use it?

If you have a severe scorpion infestation, you can start by spraying once a month. Check the weather report so you don’t spray right before it rains. This product needs several hours to soak in and dry.

Once your scorpion problem is rectified, spray a preventative application every one and a half months during the warmer months – think: April to September.

Tip: If the thought of mixing insecticides is too intimating, you can get Cy-Kick CS in aerosol form. This makes application indoors much easier as you can shoot it easily into cracks and crevices where scorpions may hide.

Bayer Suspend SC

Here is another professional-grade scorpion insecticide that is incredibly effective at knocking down any scorpion infestation.

Like the Cy-Kick CS, this is not a contact spray. You do not need to search and kill scorpions. It is best used as a perimeter spray to provide protection for your property. Once applied, it goes to work killing scorpions and more than 50 other nuisance pests that may come into contact with the product.

Here’s are some quick facts about this scorpion insecticide:

• Can use it outdoors as a surface application for exterior walls and the foundations of the house
• Can use it indoors to treat baseboards, underneath sinks, around plumbing pipes, in cracks and crevices, and even on fabrics, beds, and in food service areas
• Provides very long-term residual effects – spraying once or twice a year is enough
• Is odorless and leaves no visible residue when dried

The active ingredient in Bayer Suspend SC is Deltamethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide that is classified as “relatively non-toxic to humans in all stages of life.” It is generally safe for pets but it can cause adverse reactions for dogs and cats is they eat, breathe or touch it so you need to keep pets away from the area until the product has dried completely.

MGK Onslaught FastCap Scorpion Insecticide

Last but not least, another incredibly effective scorpion insecticide is MGK Onslaught FastCap. This pesticide is lethal for all arachnids – spiders and scorpions alike.

Much like the above scorpion insecticides, this is not a contact spray to kill scorpions. Instead, the best way to use this insecticide is to create a barrier around your home so that any scorpions that cross it will be dead.

Here’s what you need to know about this scorpion insecticide:

• Can use it both indoors and outdoors
• Can apply to entire surfaces like exterior walls or spot treatments like into wall voids, other cracks and crevices, underneath sinks, and areas behind pipes
• Does not stain, goes on wet and when dry, the product “disappears”
• Kills scorpions as well as the insects that scorpions like to eat
• Has long-lasting residual protection

The active ingredient in MGK Onslaught FastCap is Esfenvalerate, which is a synthetic pyrethroid that is rated as moderately toxic to mammals and birds. It is practically non-toxic via inhalation but it is essential that you take all the necessary precautions when handling the product.

It is safe for pets and humans once it’s dried but keep young children and your fur babies away from the area for a couple of hours until the application is fully dried.

How to Use a Scorpion Pesticide

Most insecticides will come with their own in-depth instructions for appropriate handling and distribution of the chemicals.

Side note: You may have to purchase the actual dispensary equipment separately.

That being said, there are some ground rules that you should know before you DIY pest control:

• Purchase and wear safety equipment. You don’t want to skimp on this part. Go for the full uniform: safety glasses, rubber boots and gloves and at the very least, some long-sleeved shirts and pants, if not a full boiler suit!

• Stick to the recommended measurements. Always follow the dilution and measurements that your chosen brand recommends. Don’t try to gauge it by eye or guesswork as this could be dangerous, or result in an ineffective mix.

• Choose the right weather. If using outside – don’t spray the toxins on a windy or rainy day, as this could spread the insecticides into unwanted areas and cause problems for neighbors or other animal life.

• Open the windows. When using indoors, always spray in a well-vented area and take appropriate precautions to make sure you’re not breathing in anymore of the chemicals than is necessary (even if the brand claims to be safe for humans and pets!).

• Wash your hands. Always wash both your hands and the equipment thoroughly after use. Many of these pesticides can be quickly absorbed through the skin, so it’s best to eradicate any risk as soon as possible.

• Only use as frequently as the brand instructions dictate. It can be tempting to keep liberally applying the chemicals in the troublesome spots, but overdoing it can have adverse effects for the environment and your safety. It’s best to consult the instructions and only reapply when it’s safe and recommended to do so.

And, above all else: do not use external-only pesticides within the home. Always make sure that the pesticide is marked for both indoors and outdoor use.

What Kills Scorpions Naturally?

Wondering what kills scorpions naturally? We got you. Scorpions are scary and of course, you want to be rid of them.

But there are ways to wage war on these invaders without resorting to harsh commercial chemicals.

You don’t need nuclear launch codes to kill scorpions. You can go about it the all-natural route. Here are the best natural ways to kill scorpions.

Diatomaceous Earth Scorpion Killer

It might sound like something from a sci-fi film, but diatomaceous earth is actually a fairly rudimentary and safe method of ridding yourself of pests generally and scorpions specifically – well, actually any pests with a hard, outer shell.

Which is why it usually makes its way onto every “best scorpion killer” list.

That said, diatomaceous earth for scorpions is a fairly indirect method of killing them, requiring the scorpion to wander into the wrong neighborhood, essentially. As such, it’s not a quick solution and it’s not great to use as a more active, seek-and-destroy scorpion killing method.

What is is great for is as an all-natural perimeter to kill and prevent scorpions.

Diatomaceous earth is a powder which works by affixing itself to the outside of any wandering scorpions that happen to trample through it and then dehydrating them from the outside in. Once the powder has attached, time does the rest.

Here’s a quick guide to killing scorpions with diatomaceous earth.

Where to use diatomaceous earth for scorpions?

The best places to use diatomaceous earth are where scorpions are surfaces that scorpions will need to cross to get into your home as well as spots where scorpions like to hide and live. This may take some investigative work on your part but it’s worth the effort.

The most strategic locations will typically be:

• Floor edges and baseboards indoors
• Wall corners
• Around plumbing and pipes
• Around the base of the entire house outdoors
• Along the windowsills outdoors
• In areas with rocks and stones where scorpions like to hide
• Any cracks and crevices in the interior of the house that is big enough to slide a credit card into

You’ll want to locate the most heavily trafficked areas of your home or yard (it’s probably best to dabble in a little bit of night-time UV hunting to do this). Also search for any gaps and entryways into the house.

How to apply diatomaceous earth for scorpions?

Once you know where the scorpions are coming from: it’s time for application. Spread the diatomaceous earth liberally while making sure that it is evenly distributed.

Given that the powder doesn’t have an immediate effect on the scorpion, it’s best to cover as much ground as possible with the DE to ensure that the critters will pick up the granules. You don’t want to leave clumps of this stuff – a thin, even application is key. To help you spread evenly, enlist the help of a DE duster like this one…

Rinse and repeat the above process, making sure to return to some of the favored scorpion spots to check the results, especially after it rains. If successful, you should begin to find fewer culprits using your yard or home’s arachnid highways.

Re-coat problem areas as often as is necessary, even if the scorpion epidemic seems to have abated. There’s no harm in having a little extra insurance and keeping the pests at bay!

Keep in mind that while diatomaceous earth is natural, you don’t want to go inhaling it. Wear a mask to minimize inhalation.

Final note on using diatomaceous earth for scorpions

If you used the diatomaceous earth indoors, you need to return to where you spread it to pick up the dead scorpion bodies. Scorpions aren’t above eating their own so that dead scorpion can be an attractive food source for its neighboring friends and family.

Always remember to be extra careful when disposing of any dead bodies you find. Even in a deeply dehydrated state, the carcass of a scorpion can still be dangerous to any exposed flesh.

Boric Acid for Scorpions

Like diatomaceous earth, boric acid is a powdered deterrent and natural scorpion killer. It works very similarly to diatomaceous earth, weakening a scorpion’s outer shell and slowly dehydrating scorpions to death once it’s made contact.

But it does slightly more than that. When consumed, boric acid acts as a poison and affects the scorpions’ metabolism, which can result in starvation.

Because both starvation and dehydration take awhile, boric acid doesn’t work instantly. But once boric acid is ingested or gets onto the hard exoskeleton of an unlucky scorpion, it will begin to work its destructive magic.

It’s a fairly ‘weak’ scorpion pesticide, in regards to its potency. But it’s still strong enough to cause irritation and some other side-effects if it gets in contact with your skin. With that in mind, you want to be wary of where you spread the stuff.

How to use boric acid for scorpions?

When it comes to using boric acid for scorpions, you’ve got options. Boric acid can kill scorpions via dehydration and poisoning, so there are a number of ways you can employ this useful substance, like:

• Boric Acid Water Trap. You can make a simple scorpion poison trap that takes advantage of the fact that scorpions need water. Place water in a deep bowl and dissolve boric acid inside. Make sure scorpions will be able to get in the bowl. Once a scorpion has drunk the boric acid-laced water, the poison can get to work.

• Create Boric Acid Barriers. You can also use boric acid in the same way you would diatomaceous earth – by placing it in strategic locations that scorpions will have to cross in order to get into your home, i.e. floor edges and baseboards.

• Boric Acid Scorpion Spray. You can even combine boric acid and water together in a bottle and spray scorpions directly. Scorpions self-clean, especially before and after eating so this can increase the chance of scorpions ingesting boric acid.

Keep in mind that boric acid can take its time even once it’s made contact with a scorpion. Which means the affected scorpion will still be able to sting. Please handle them carefully when you go to dispose of them.

Note: Boric acid can also be ​dangerous for pets if inhaled and especially if ingested so do not go this option if you have cats and dogs living with you.

Generally, it’s great for dusting and covering harder to reach areas, and some of those more obtuse cracks, gaps and crevices around the home. You know, the ones that you or your children are unlikely to go rooting around in, but that might make a nice front door for a nomadic scorpion.

Scorpion Sticky Traps

Last but not least, here is another natural way to get rid of scorpions: let them meet a sticky end. Or at least, a sticky middle-ground until you sweep in for the killing blow.

You see, glue traps are a fantastic method for catching mice, spiders and scorpions around the home – but they won’t kill them.

So what are scorpion sticky traps good for?

Well, for starters, they allow you to passively trap any scorpions that may be wandering around your home. Which is a much better option than finding one in your shoe or in your bed, if you ask me.

Plus, scorpion glue traps allow you to monitor the scorpion infestation in your home so you can see how the situation is going. Once you stop finding any scorpions in your glue traps, you can finally pop the champagne.

Tip: Always be wary of throwing away used glue traps, as it’s very likely the culprit is still alive and very, very angry at being stuck to the floor all night long.

Another handy tip: Scorpions and the like tend to favor corners; so toss a few of these down in some of the dark, dingy corners if your home and you might be surprised by what you find in the morning. Don’t expect the surprise to be pleasant.

Many retailers will also stock scorpion and creepy crawly bait which you can use in tandem with your glue traps; but failing that, you might find success in setting them up in bathrooms and kitchens where water and plumbing is usually found.

How to Kill a Scorpion in 3 Steps

Scorpion insecticides and powders are all very effective ways to kill scorpions in a passive, indirect way. But what about when you encounter a scorpion wandering freely through your home? You can’t just leave it to roam around and potentially harm your family.

Or maybe you’re not at all squeamish about encountering those legs and pincers. You don’t want to just pick off the odd straggler that stumbles into your kitchen – you want to take them out at the source. 

If you want to bring the war directly to these eight-legged beasties, you’ll need to know how to kill a scorpion. Here’s how to do it.

Look for Scorpions

To seek and destroy scorpions, the best way to do it is methodically search them out and kill each scorpion as you come across it.

>>>Scorpion Hunting 101: How to Find and Kill a Scorpion

This can be trickier than it sounds because these sting-y creatures are reclusive by nature and tend to hang around tight, hidden spots for safety and comfort.

This means you’ll have to do some waiting… but only until it’s dark, then it’s time to grab a high powered UV light, like this one, which will allow you to easily spot scorpions in the dark.

Tip: It might be worth checking the skies before you head out to do some nocturnal arachnid head-rolling, however. Bear in mind that UV light will work best the darker it is.

This goes for the scorpions themselves, too; the darker it is, the more active they are, which is why we advise waiting until a new moon or less than half-moon night before heading out to hunt scorpions.

Cold, stormy or otherwise unpleasant nights, weather wise, will make it much more difficult to find any hidden scorpions, too. They might be horrid pests, but they have common sense. If it’s raining outside, they’ll prefer a cosy night in! Pick a hot, humid night for the best chance of catching them out and about.

Choose a Scorpion Killer

Once you find a scorpion, you need to know how to kill it. You have options here, namely two. Both are somewhat instantaneous and allow to a quick kill and disposal.

Scorpion Killer Sprays

The first is to hit them with a barrel of pesticides. Choose a contact killing spray like the Terro Scorpion Killer spray or the Black Flag Scorpion Spray. Both are hardcore effective and a great option for a contact kill.

Keep in mind, though, that scorpions won’t die as soon as they’re sprayed. It takes a couple minutes. So be very careful with handling them until you’re sure they’re dead.

A Scorpion Killing Tool

Simple and to the point – if you want to get more hands-on with your scorpion disposal, you can do so with the right tool. Before approaching, however, you want to make sure that you’re protected by your clothing from any stings. Wear long pants, long sleeves and thick gloves so that you don’t run the risk of stinging yourself while killing scorpions.

When it comes to killing a scorpion with tools, you need to make sure you pierce its body. Kind of like a vampire. The best tools to use for this are a long pair of tweezers – they must be at least 12 inches. You can use the tweezers to pierce the scorpion’s body and to pick it up with when you throw it away.

Tweezers aren’t your only option. Forceps can be good for holding a scorpion in place, from a safe distance, while you pierce it with a sharp knife or a pair of scissors with long blades.

Although it requires some degree of precision, piercing a scorpion is much more effective than simply crushing it with a blunt object. That’s because some scorpions can flatten themselves almost completely – as thin as a coin – and evade being killed.

Dispose of the Scorpion with Care

Once the killing is over, there is still one more step. You must properly dispose of the dead scorpion. We recommend that you place it in a sealable bag before you put them in the trash.

That’s because the muscles that trigger a scorpion to sting can still fire even when the scorpion is dead. This is just an extra precaution to protect you and other living beings that may come into contact with the trash.

What Kills Scorpions Instantly?

When you are face-to-face with a venomous stinger and intimidating pincers, you’re not thinking about the long-term and your overall scorpion elimination strategy. No, you just want to know what kills scorpions instantly.

Here’s a quick and easy list of all the ways to instantly kill a scorpion:

• Crush it. If the only thing you have at hand is a blunt object, you can smush the scorpion. Just make sure to go further than a simple “thwack.” Twist and grind until you know it’s been crushed.

• Pierce it. A sharp object is best. Use a knife, long-bladed scissors, or sharp tweezers. You can even fashion a scorpion stake of sorts with an old broom handle.

• Black Flag Scorpion Spray. This spray covers the scorpion with a thick, foamy substance that will kill it in a couple minutes.

• Terro Scorpion Spray. Another contact killer, this spray doesn’t go on as thick but it is just as effective in killing scorpions quickly.

• Brake parts cleaner. Here’s a strange yet effective home remedy to instantly kill a scorpion – if you have a can of brake parts cleaner like BRAKLEEN around, you can use it to kill a scorpion in a matter of seconds. Please be very careful about spraying this into your own eyes. Wear goggles.

You can use any of the above for an instant kill. But while wreaking vengeance on the eight-legged intruder may be satisfying, it’s not the best way to solve a scorpion problem.

What is the Best Way to Kill Scorpions?

Scorpion sprays, powders, pesticides, knives, tweezers…there are a lot of ways to kill scorpions. But what is the best way?

Honestly, the best way to kill scorpions is to use a holistic approach that combines several kinds of scorpion killers. Here is an action plan that you can use:

• Set glue traps. Scorpion sticky traps accomplish two important things – they catch scorpions that are loose in your house and allow you to monitor how bad or good the scorpion infestation is.

• Erect barriers with diatomaceous earth. It’s a good idea to use diatomaceous earth indoors thanks to its natural, non-toxic nature. You can strategically dust it in scorpion entryways and favorite hiding spots like baseboards, wall corners, under fridges, and around pipes.

• Use a scorpion pesticide for perimeter protection. Spraying a scorpion pesticide like Cy-Kick CS around the exterior of your house will go a long way in keeping scorpions away from your home.

• Kill individual scorpions. With the above long-term plan set it place, you can speed things up by killing individual scorpions you find with scorpions sprays and/or sharp objects.

And last but not least, it’s not enough to just kill scorpions. You’ll need to know how to prevent them so you don’t have to deal with this problem again.

>>>How to Get Rid of Scorpions Permanently: The Ultimate Guide

There you have it: although scorpions can be an unholy pain to keep at bay, there are many effective ways to kill them off when they become a problem. You can get as technical or medieval as you wish. Or for best results, combine them all into an overarching strategy that no scorpion can escape.