To face a growing public health problem in Brazil — the proliferation of scorpions in urban areas — a startup from Ribeirão Preto is betting on a more preventive strategy: monitoring to fight better. Ecobiotech launched Scorpfem, a poison-free sticky trap, in June 2026.
Incubated at the SUPERA Innovation and Technology Park, in Ribeirão Preto, the biotechnology company wants to reverse the traditional approach: using poison as soon as a scorpion appears, to try to exterminate it without knowing if there are other specimens or knowing the size of the infestation.
Scorpfem is an adhesive trap aimed at capturing and technically monitoring scorpions. As it does not use poison in its composition, the product is described by the manufacturer as suitable for environments such as homes, condominiums, companies and areas with a history of animal sightings.
What sets Scorpfem apart is the food-attractant bioinducer, that is, . According to Ecobiotech, the technology was calibrated specifically for the yellow scorpion (Tityus serrulatus), a species of greatest health relevance in the country.
In a press release, Ecobiotech’s R&D director, Thaís Maester, explains that “the yellow scorpion has become a public health problem directly linked to urban growth. Debris, accumulation of garbage and the presence of cockroaches, which are the species’ main food, create favorable conditions for proliferation.”
Why are yellow scorpions a public health problem and how to combat them?
At the moment, . Data from the Ministry of Health indicate that the country recorded more than 225,000 scorpion bites in 2025 — equivalent to more than 65% of accidents of this type, above snakes and spiders.
In this context, simply killing a scorpion that appears at home ends up being a limited solution. The ideal is to understand whether that animal is an isolated case or part of a larger infestation. And that’s exactly where Scorpfem’s proposal comes in: it also works as a diagnostic tool.
The trap can be installed in strategic points such as gardens, drains, manholes, garages and warehouses. The manufacturer highlights that, as it does not use poison, the product can be a safer alternative in environments with children and pets, in addition to reducing the environmental impact.
O T. serrulatus has a chemoreceptor system with which you can “smell smells” in the environment and use this to find food, even at a certain distance. Field tests cited by Ecobiotech showed effectiveness with the trap positioned within a radius of up to five meters from the infestation hotspots.
How does Scorpfem work in integrated pest management?
Scorpfem’s kits include not only the trap with shelter itself, but also sachets of the food attractant bioinducer and refills of high-retention adhesive glue. According to Ecobiotech, the idea is to allow both the capture and counting of individuals, helping to map the level of infestation.
Indoors, says the manufacturer, the reach of the attraction may decrease due to the interference of competitive odors, vibrations and the movement of people. Therefore, the trap comes with an “inviting” dark shelter to encourage the animal’s entry during its nocturnal activity period.
Flexible, the trap can be installed by the resident/manager/company, or by a pest control professional. Attracted by the bioinductor, .
However, Maester warns, no single tool solves the yellow scorpion problem, which requires integrated management measures. She describes Scorpfem as a technical capture and monitoring instrument, capable of identifying infestation hotspots and guiding more specific control actions.
