At a glance
- The Arizona bark scorpion is the only scorpion in the United States whose sting is considered medically significant, and it is the scorpion most often found inside East Valley homes.
- Arizona bark scorpions climb stucco and trees, fit through cracks about 1/16 inch wide, and shelter in block walls, landscape rock and wood piles.
- Platinum Pest Management treats block wall voids, the weep screed line and the insects scorpions feed on, and the technician points out worn door sweeps and other gaps a homeowner can seal.
- Scorpion control in the East Valley usually calls for monthly or bi-monthly service, because treatments break down in the heat and new scorpions keep moving in from nearby yards and desert.
- After a bark scorpion sting, wash the area, apply a cool compress and call the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-222-1222.
On this page
How to tell an Arizona bark scorpion from other scorpions
Three scorpions account for most sightings around East Valley homes: the Arizona bark scorpion, the desert hairy scorpion and the stripe-tailed scorpion. The bark scorpion is the only scorpion in the United States whose sting is considered medically significant. It is also the one most likely to get indoors.
| Scorpion | Size and appearance | Where it turns up | Sting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona bark scorpion | 2 to 3 inches, light tan to yellowish, with slender pincers and a thin tail | Walls, ceilings, sinks and tubs indoors; block walls, trees and landscape rock outside | Medically significant, especially for young children and older adults |
| Desert hairy scorpion | Often 4 inches or longer, with thick pincers, a dark back and a hairy tail and legs | Burrows in soil and sand; sometimes found in pools and window wells | Painful, like a bee sting for most people |
| Stripe-tailed scorpion | Similar in length to a bark scorpion but stockier, with heavier pincers and dark stripes under the tail | Under rocks, pavers and yard debris; mostly stays on the ground | Painful, like a bee sting for most people |
Size alone can mislead, since young scorpions of every species are small. Slender pincers point to a bark scorpion, and so does finding one on a wall or ceiling.
Why East Valley homes have so many scorpions
Scorpion activity in the East Valley has more to do with the lot than with housekeeping. Bark scorpions spend the day inside block walls, under cap blocks, beneath landscape rock and in wood piles, then come out after dark to hunt. They climb stucco and block easily, and overhanging trees give them a route to roofs and attics.
A flat body lets a bark scorpion slip through a crack about 1/16 inch wide. Gaps under doors, worn garage door seals, openings around pipes and the space behind the weep screed are all wide enough.
Prey and moisture pull bark scorpions toward houses as well. Irrigated landscaping and porch lights attract crickets, roaches and other insects, and scorpions follow that food supply. Monsoon storms, which usually run from July into September, flood burrows and drains and push insects and scorpions toward homes.
Homes that back onto open desert, washes or preserve land tend to see more scorpions. Grading desert for a new subdivision has a similar effect, pushing the scorpions that lived there into the nearest yards and walls. Many homes in Apache Junction, northeast Mesa, the Ahwatukee foothills, Queen Creek and San Tan Valley fit one or both descriptions.
How we treat bark scorpions
Platinum Pest Management starts scorpion control with an inspection of the property. The technician looks over block walls, landscape rock, wood piles, the weep screed, the garage and the pool equipment to find where scorpions shelter and how they reach the house.
The service depends on what the inspection turns up, and it generally includes these steps.
- Block wall voids and the weep screed. We treat the hollow cells inside block walls, the gaps under cap blocks and the weep screed line where stucco meets the foundation.
- Crickets, roaches and other prey. An exterior treatment around the foundation, door frames, windows and landscape beds is aimed at the insects that scorpions hunt. See our cricket control and roach control pages for more on those pests.
- Pool and yard equipment. Scorpions shelter around pool pumps and filters, irrigation valve boxes and meter boxes, so we inspect and treat those spots.
- Sealing advice. The technician points out worn door sweeps, torn garage door seals and gaps around plumbing and air conditioning lines, and notes which repairs a homeowner can make.
Every treatment uses EPA-registered products, applied by licensed technicians according to the label. Platinum Pest Management holds Arizona pest control business license #9562.
Why scorpion control needs regular service
Scorpions take longer to bring under control than most household pests, and we say so at the first visit. A bark scorpion can go months without eating and spends the day deep in walls and rock, out of reach of a spray. Treatments also break down faster in Arizona heat and sunlight, and new scorpions keep arriving from neighboring yards and open desert. For those reasons, a one-time spray rarely solves a scorpion problem.
Regular service keeps a treated zone around the house and holds down the insects scorpions feed on. For most homes with scorpion activity we recommend monthly or bi-monthly visits, based on what the inspection finds. Visits from spring through fall count the most, since scorpions are active in warm weather and slow down in winter.
If covered pests return between scheduled visits, we come back and re-treat at no extra charge. The pest control plans page explains the monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly and one-time options.
What homeowners can do between scorpion treatments
Homeowners can do much of the prevention work themselves, and it makes each treatment more effective.
- Move wood piles, stacked pavers, bricks and spare landscape rock away from the house and block walls.
- Trim trees and shrubs so branches do not touch the roof or walls, and have dead palm fronds removed.
- Fix leaking hose bibs and drip lines, and set sprinklers so water does not pool against the foundation.
- Use yellow bulbs or motion sensors on porch and patio lights so they draw fewer of the insects scorpions hunt.
- Store garage items in sealed plastic bins rather than cardboard boxes.
- Shake out shoes, clothing and towels left on the floor, and check the garage and yard with a blacklight after dark.
- Pull beds and cribs a few inches away from the walls and keep blankets from touching the floor.
First aid for a scorpion sting
A bark scorpion sting usually causes sharp pain, numbness and tingling around the site. Healthy adults typically recover with home care, but young children and older adults are more likely to develop serious symptoms. For any sting, start with these steps.
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Apply a cool compress or an ice pack wrapped in a cloth.
- Call the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-222-1222. Staff there can say whether home care is enough.
Get emergency care right away if the person stung is a young child or an older adult. Do the same for anyone who has trouble breathing, trouble swallowing or unusual muscle movements such as twitching or roving eyes, and call 911 if symptoms are severe.
How long it takes to see fewer scorpions
Most homes see fewer scorpions within a few weeks of starting service, and sightings usually keep dropping over the first two to three months of regular visits. Homes next to open desert, or with heavy activity at the first inspection, can take longer. A few slow-moving or dead scorpions in the first week or two are common, as treatment pushes them out of hiding.
No company can keep every scorpion out of a house in the Sonoran Desert. A realistic goal is a large drop in sightings, with an occasional scorpion still possible, most often in the garage or outdoors. To find where scorpions are getting in, schedule a free inspection or call (480) 518-1942. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available.
Frequently asked questions
How long does scorpion treatment take to work?
Most East Valley homes see fewer scorpions within a few weeks of the first treatment, and sightings usually keep dropping over the first two to three months of regular service. Homes that back onto desert or washes can take longer. A few slow or dying scorpions in the first week or two are normal, since the treatment pushes them out of their hiding places.
Is an Arizona bark scorpion sting dangerous?
The Arizona bark scorpion is the only scorpion in the United States whose sting is considered medically significant. Most healthy adults have intense pain, numbness and tingling that ease with time. Young children, older adults and anyone with trouble breathing, trouble swallowing or unusual muscle movements need emergency care. For any sting, call the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Why do scorpions keep coming back after I spray?
Store-bought sprays kill the scorpions they touch, but most scorpions spend the day inside block walls and under rock where the spray never reaches. Those products also break down quickly in Arizona heat and sunlight, and new scorpions move in from neighboring yards and open desert. A maintained exterior treatment on a regular schedule does more to keep activity down, especially once worn door seals and other gaps the technician points out are fixed.
Can scorpions climb into beds?
Arizona bark scorpions climb walls and ceilings, and they can reach a bed by crawling up bedding that touches the floor or by dropping from above. Moving beds and cribs a few inches from the wall and keeping blankets off the floor cuts down on both routes. In homes with heavy activity, some parents set crib legs in wide glass jars, since bark scorpions cannot climb clean glass.
How often should scorpion control be done?
For East Valley homes with active scorpion problems, we usually recommend monthly or bi-monthly service. The inspection helps decide which, based on how close the home is to open desert and how much scorpion activity we find. Details on each schedule are on our pest control plans page.