Independent guides — we are not an exterminator. If someone has trouble breathing after a sting, call 911. Safety basics

Spiders & Crawlers · Pest guide

Scorpions control

Southwest homes: sealing entry points, black-light checks and sting first aid.

When to call a pro

Scorpions at a glance

Scientific name
Order Scorpiones (Arizona bark scorpion, Centruroides sculpturatus)
Size
1 to 3 inches (25–75 mm)
Appearance
Pincers, segmented tail with stinger; glow under UV light
Where found
Southwest homes: walls, attics, closets, shoes, landscape rock
  • Health riskHigh
  • Property damageLow
  • Do it yourself?DIY or pro
When scorpions are active Peak: Apr–Aug
  1. Jan Rare
  2. Feb Low
  3. Mar Active
  4. Apr Peak
  5. May Peak
  6. Jun Peak
  7. Jul Peak
  8. Aug Peak
  9. Sep Active (this month)
  10. Oct Active
  11. Nov Low
  12. Dec Rare

Low Active Peak This month

Signs to look for

  • Scorpions seen at night on walls or ceilings
  • Glowing scorpions during a black-light check outside

Call a professional when

  • Bark scorpions seen indoors more than once
  • Young children or elderly people live in the home
How to choose a pest control company

Safety first

For a sting, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for trouble breathing or muscle twitching, especially in children.

Our scorpions guides are being researched. Meanwhile, the profile above covers the signs, the risks and when to call a professional.

Keep scorpions out

  1. Weatherstrip doors and seal weep holes with mesh
  2. Shake out shoes and bedding in scorpion areas
  3. Remove rock piles and debris near walls

Often confused or found together

All spiders & crawlers
Spiders Mostly harmless and useful, but brown recluses and black widows need care. Centipedes Fast house centipedes are a sign of damp and of other insects to eat. Cockroaches German, American and Oriental roaches: where they hide and the baits that end an infestation.
Photo credits

Thank you to Ryan Hodnett and Oliver Ren for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.

Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0