Grow and Graze
Grow and Graze
Episode 102-Scorpions.
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Welcome everyone to the Grow and Graze podcast, episode number 102. This is produced by the NC Cooperative Extension in Cherokee County and for anyone that would like to learn more about this information can visit cherokee. ces.ncsu.edu and with me today is Jim Wilcox. Jim is a Master Gardener with a Cherokee County Master Gardener program. Hello, Doug. Good morning. Good to have you here this morning. Nice to be here. Thank you. And we're going to be talking about an insect today that is virtually kind of just for this area. So you want to tell us a little bit about the insect we're going to be introducing to everyone today. Doug not to scare you away, but we are talking about scorpions and here in Cherokee county, we have the Southern Devil Scorpion. And some of you might be thinking, I thought scorpions liked desert areas. Not necessarily this one it's found primarily in Western North Carolina. And specifically here in Cherokee county, it's again, the Southern devil scorpion and my goodness it is alarming. If you see one and yet they're not really considered a public health threat, unless you're allergic to them. So let's talk about their habitat for a minute and why you might see them indoors, which is concerning Their habitat, thank goodness, they like outdoors usually under bark,wood, and rock piles. They like moist areas and that's where their prey is found. So you'll see them there. So in your home, you may see them in the moist areas, in the bathroom or in the kitchen. They're nocturnal so they're moving around at night and what that means to you. Let's say, if you leave your shoes out at night, especially maybe on the back porch, it's a good idea to, to shake those out before you put them on, even shake your clothes vigorously. Some people even say if your bed contacts the wall, it might be more likely for them to come into your, get into the bed. Doug, why don't you give us a couple ideas on control of these Rascals? Well, a lot of people try to use the pesticides or the insecticides, but actually you can do a pretty good job of controlling them by just looking at your outside area and items that they can basically hide in under, and also sealing up your home with caulk and that type of thing and foam insulation that will keep them from getting inside the house. But if they do get inside the house, there are some insecticides that can be used that you can purchase over the counter type pesticides, such as bifenthrin or gamma-cyhalothrin and both of those are you can find that Lowe's or you can find it any place that sales, those products. I heard you could even use a, those glues glue pads that you've used for mice. Yeah. You can use glue pads. But once again, I think the biggest thing that we'd need to do is just make sure that we cover up all the cracks and crevices and treat the areas that that they can go in and a lot of times that will prevent them from getting into the house. Prevention, you're right Doug has is a much better idea. So. Well, we thank everyone for being with us today and learning about the Southern Devil Scorpion and, once again, if you would like to learn more about this insect or anything else about agriculture or home gardening or horticulture, feel free to contact our office or visit our website at cherokee.ces. ncsu.edu. Thank you for listening. Thanks so much.