If you live in an area where scorpions are a seasonal (or year-round) nuisance, you’ve likely tried a few different control methods. Sprays, powders, and electronic zappers are common, but they each come with their own drawbacks—chemicals in the home, limited effectiveness, or constant battery changes. The Catchmaster Scorpion Glue Tray Trays offer a much simpler alternative: a sticky surface placed where scorpions travel. After testing these traps over several weeks in a garage and basement, here is a realistic look at how they perform and where they fall short.
These traps are essentially flat, fold-open cardboard trays coated with a strong, non-toxic adhesive. They are designed to be placed along baseboards, in corners, near door thresholds, or behind appliances—anywhere scorpions are likely to walk. The idea is that the scorpion steps onto the glue and gets stuck, allowing you to dispose of the entire trap. There is no bait, no scent, and no poison involved. This makes them a purely passive, mechanical trap. The glue is formulated to remain effective even in dusty areas, which is a practical consideration for garages and basements where scorpions often hide.
In use, the traps are straightforward. You open the cardboard, remove the paper covering the adhesive, and fold the trap into a small tunnel-like shape. The tunnel design is intentional—scorpions, being nocturnal and preferring dark, tight spaces, are more likely to venture into the trap than walk across an open sticky sheet. This is a smart design choice that improves catch rates compared to flat glue boards. Over a month, I caught three scorpions in the garage and one in the basement. That is not a huge number, but it confirms the traps are working as intended. They are best thought of as a monitoring tool rather than a full-blown extermination solution.
One key feature worth noting is the adhesive’s resistance to dust and moisture. In a basement with some humidity and a garage with typical dust levels, the glue remained tacky for the full four weeks I left the traps out. Some cheaper glue traps dry out or become less sticky when exposed to dust, but these held up reasonably well. That said, they are not waterproof—if a trap gets wet from a leak or heavy condensation, the glue will lose its grip. So placement matters.
However, there are clear limitations. The most obvious is that these traps only catch scorpions that happen to wander onto them. If you have a significant infestation, glue traps alone will not solve the problem. They are a supplemental tool, best used alongside exclusion methods like sealing cracks, removing debris, and treating the perimeter with a residual insecticide if you are comfortable with that. Another trade-off is that the traps are not selective. You may also catch spiders, crickets, silverfish, or even small lizards. If you are trying to avoid harming beneficial insects, this could be a concern. Additionally, the traps are single-use—once a trap is full or loses stickiness, you throw it away. A six-pack does not last long if you place them in multiple rooms.
Compared to scorpion-specific sprays or powders, these glue traps are much safer around children and pets, since there are no chemicals. But they are also less aggressive in terms of reducing the population. A spray treatment can kill scorpions on contact and leave a barrier that lasts weeks, while a glue trap relies entirely on the scorpion’s movement. For someone who wants a non-toxic method and is patient, the Catchmaster traps are a reasonable choice. For someone dealing with a heavy infestation or who wants immediate results, they will likely be disappointed.
These traps are suitable for homeowners who want to monitor scorpion activity, confirm their presence, or catch a few occasional invaders. They are also good for people who prefer to avoid pesticides indoors. They are not suitable for severe infestations, for use in wet areas, or for those expecting a quick fix. If you have a large property or multiple entry points, you may need to buy several packs and combine them with other control measures. Overall, the Catchmaster Scorpion Glue Tray Trays are a functional, low-cost tool for specific situations, but they are not a standalone solution.