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Arizona bark scorpion: how to identify it in a Phoenix home
You may have seen a pale scorpion on a bathroom wall, in the tub, near laundry, or under something in the garage. In the Phoenix area, that can be an Arizona bark scorpion, the scorpion most likely to climb into homes.
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- Scorpion on walls or ceilings
- Found in tubs or sinks
- Seen at night
- Hiding in towels or clothing
- Glows green under UV light
- More near damp areas
If someone was stung or bitten
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. It's answered around the clock by nurses and pharmacists at Arizona's poison centers, and they'll tell you whether you can stay home.
Call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222
Call 911 right away for trouble breathing, swallowing or talking, or for a young child with strong symptoms.
An Arizona bark scorpion is a small, climbing scorpion with a thin tail and a sting that can be serious. Young children and older adults need extra caution, and anyone stung should call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or call 911 for severe symptoms. The most useful next step is to avoid handling it, check shoes and linens, then look for entry gaps and damp hiding spots.
Bark scorpions hunt insects, spiders, centipedes, and other scorpions. Around a house, they may follow prey into areas with moisture, clutter, or shade. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, pool areas, garages, closets, attics, and storage areas can give them cover.
This species climbs well. It can get up stucco, cement, trees, rock walls, and slump block, which is why a Phoenix homeowner may find one on a wall instead of just on the floor. Clean glass and clean plastic are harder for them to climb.
Finding one bark scorpion indoors doesn't prove there is a large group inside. It can mean the home has access points or hiding places worth checking. UC IPM notes that bark scorpions can enter through very small gaps, including cracks around doors, windows, foundations, plumbing, vents, or roof eaves.
Bark scorpions avoid daytime heat by hiding under bark, rocks, bricks, lumber, or in cracks. Indoors, they may turn up behind baseboards, in wall voids, closets, attics, or dark cool rooms. Use caution before reaching into stored items.
- Small, light tan to yellow brown body
- Very thin tail
- Long segmented tail with stinger
- Climbs stucco or block walls
- Active after dark
- Often in cool, moist spots
Health risk
The bark scorpion is the Arizona scorpion of real medical concern. Stings can cause strong pain, numbness, tingling, trouble swallowing, muscle twitching, or breathing problems. Children and older adults face more risk, so call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or call 911 for severe symptoms.
Bark scorpions are active at night and are noticed more during warmer months around Arizona homes. In winter, scorpions may shelter together in protected spots.
What's different in the Phoenix area
In Phoenix, bark scorpions fit right into irrigated yards, pool areas, damp laundry spaces, and homes built with stucco or block walls. Slump block walls and rough stucco give them climbing paths, so they can show up on ceilings or high walls instead of staying near the floor.
Often confused with
What you can do today
Do a night check
Use a UV flashlight from a safe distance, and don't look into the beam. Bark scorpions glow green under ultraviolet light, which can make them easier to spot on walls, patios, or near the garage.
Shake before use
Shake out shoes, clothing, towels, and pool towels before touching your skin. Check bedding if it has touched the floor.
Move beds from walls
Pull beds and cribs away from walls. Keep sheets and blankets from hanging to the floor, since bark scorpions can climb rough surfaces.
Remove hiding spots
Move boards, bricks, rocks, stacked lumber, firewood, and trash away from the foundation. Wear leather gloves for yard work and shoes outdoors at night.
Seal easy entries
Check door sweeps, window screens, plumbing gaps, foundation cracks, attic vents, and roof eaves. A technician can help find gaps that are easy to miss.
When to call a pest control company
Call a local pest control company if you see more than one scorpion, keep finding them indoors, have a child or older adult in the home, or find them near beds, bathrooms, or laundry. A technician will look for entry points, moisture sources, insect prey, block wall travel routes, roof access, and hiding areas around the slab, garage, attic, and yard.
Not sure what you're dealing with?
Describe it on the phone. The company on the other end handles these calls every day and will know what to ask.
Common questions about arizona bark scorpion in Phoenix
Is an Arizona bark scorpion dangerous?
Yes, treat it with caution. It is the scorpion in Arizona most tied to serious sting symptoms, especially for young children and older adults.
What should I do if someone is stung?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 after a scorpion sting. Call 911 for severe symptoms, especially if the person stung is a young child or older adult.
Why was a scorpion in my bathroom?
Bark scorpions are drawn to cool, moist places and may get trapped in tubs or sinks. Bathrooms and laundry rooms are common places to notice them indoors.
Do bark scorpions climb walls?
Yes. Bark scorpions climb rough surfaces such as stucco, cement, trees, rock walls, and block walls, which makes them common indoor wall or ceiling sightings.
Is a giant hairy scorpion the same as a bark scorpion?
No. The giant hairy scorpion is much larger and hairier, while the bark scorpion is smaller with a thin tail and better climbing habits.
Get the arizona bark scorpion problem looked at
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