Arizona Bark Scorpion: Here’s what you need to know about this pest

The Arizona bark scorpion is well known for its poisonous sting. The sting of the bark scorpion can be very dangerous, particularly for children and seniors.

They are common in the hot, desert climate of central Arizona, particularly in the Phoenix metro area.

Arizona bark scorpions are a dangerous nuisance around the house. In this article, we will provide information about these scorpions, and the steps you can do to remove the threat from around the house.

We offer a free scorpion inspection.

Get to know the Arizona bark scorpion

Arizona bark scorpions generally grow to a size of up to 3 inches long. They’re not the largest scorpion around, but don’t let their size fool you. They’re still more dangerous than many larger scorpion species.

They are generally brownish-yellow in color and feature dark, lengthwise bands. Unlike some other types of scorpions, the bark scorpions have thick lobster-like pincers. The pincers of the scorpions are elaborate in size while the tail is slender with a sting at the end.

In the wild, Arizona bark scorpions are usually found under crevices, rocks, and in trees. However, sometimes they also make their home indoors, particularly in the drawers, tubs, sinks, and cabinets. They are active at night and generally ambush their prey. As predators, they hunt roaches, crickets, and other insects.

Bark scorpions can climb

Unique to scorpions, Arizona bark scorpions are capable climbers, and can even hang upside down from a ceiling. They can climb walls and other objects having rough surfaces. However, they cannot climb smooth surfaces such as the glass.

That’s led to an old Arizonan DIY trick of putting the legs of baby’s cribs in glass mason jars, so that scorpions cannot climb into the crib. (Personally, we’d rather just take steps to get rid of the scorpions!)

A painful sting

Bark scorpions tend to prefer areas with access to prey and water. They prefer to hide and run. They’re not aggressive by default toward humans, but they can attack when they feel threatened or cornered.

The sting of the bark scorpion is painful. Symptoms include numbness in the affected area, difficult breathing, frothing at the mouth, muscle twitching, and possibly convulsions. Allergic individuals are especially at risk.

While the Arizona bark scorpion is considered potentially deadly, there have been very few deaths in Arizona from a bark scorpion since data began being tracked in the 1960s.

How to detect and remove a bark scorpion infestation

Bark scorpions tend to slip between tiny cracks inside the foundation of the house. Other hiding places include kitchen cabinets, spaces under the cabinets, shelves, and closets.

Bark scorpions have another unique property: they glow brightly when exposed to UV light, such as that from a common blacklight. This means they’re easy to spot at night in a dark room.

An experienced scorpion control professional can make a thorough investigation to detect bark scorpions inside the home. If a scorpion is found, the professional will try to catch the scorpion while wearing the protective gloves and clothing.

The pest control professional can also use a spray in hard-to-reach places where the scorpions might be hiding. They can also eliminate the food source of the scorpions such as spiders and crickets from the house to get rid of the scorpion problem for good.

Give our team a call

Arizona’s Best Choice Pest & Termite Services can provide you with experienced and trusted professionals who can get rid of bark scorpions in Arizona. The professionals can detect the presence of the scorpion inside the house, and get rid of the threat in an environmentally friendly and safe manner.

Contact us to schedule your free scorpion inspection.