Living in Phoenix means enjoying the beautiful mountain sights, sunsets, and warm weather. But you also get to sight an unexpected neigbors, the Arizona bark scorpion. They are the most common and dangerous pests for every homeowners like you here in the Sonoran Desert. These creatures are quite good at hiding themselves and their stings are really painful. So beware! Summer season and monsoon storms can keep the scorpions hyper. As a resident, it’s important for you to be aware of what they look like. If you are living in areas of Chandler, Ahwatukee, Tempe, and nearby this desert place, this guide is for you.
What Are Bark Scorpions?
Bark scorpions (Centruroides sculpturatus) are native to the Southwestern United States. They’re particularly notorious in Maricopa County, including Phoenix and surrounding cities.
How to Recognize Them:
- Pale yellow or tan color
- 2.5–3 inches long
- Long, curved tail and thin pincers
- Climbs walls and ceilings
- Glows blue-green under a blacklight
They’re small, but their sting? Anything but harmless.
Why Are Bark Scorpions Dangerous?
These scorpions are venomous, and their sting can cause:
- Sharp pain or burning
- Tingling or numbness
- Muscle twitching
- Trouble breathing (in severe cases)
While most adults recover quickly, stings can be serious or even life-threatening for:
- Children
- Seniors
- People with allergies
- Small pets
How to Identify a Bark Scorpion
Not all scorpions are created equal. Bark scorpions are:
- More slender than other types
- Faster-moving
- Able to climb and hang upside-down
- Active at night
- Best spotted using a blacklight flashlight
If you spot one indoors or high up on the wall, it’s likely a bark scorpion.
Where Do Bark Scorpions Hide?
Bark scorpions love cool, dark, undisturbed spaces. Here’s where they typically settle:
Indoors:
- Closets and baseboards
- Laundry rooms and bathrooms
- Inside shoes or laundry piles
- Attics and garages
Outdoors:
- Under rocks, logs, and bark
- Inside block wall fences
- Around irrigation boxes or A/C units
- In planters, storage bins, or wood piles
They tend to enter homes after monsoon storms when their nests get flooded.
How to Protect Your Home from Bark Scorpions
If you’re dealing with bark scorpions in high-risk areas like Chandler, Gilbert, or Ahwatukee, it takes more than just luck to keep them out. It takes a layered strategy that targets where they live, how they get in, and what they’re hiding behind.
Here’s a proven game plan that’s helped many Phoenix-area homeowners reduce (and even eliminate) scorpion problems:
1. Use a Professional-Grade Perimeter Spray
Products like Cy-Kick CS or MGK Onslaught FastCap are commonly used by pest control professionals. Apply these along the foundation, lower walls, and around the entire yard perimeter every three months.
For your first application, it’s okay to double the dosage (within labeled safety guidelines) to really knock back the population. Be sure to include:
- Base of block walls
- Exterior vents
- Around doors and windows
- Bird boards or soffits (scorpions often crawl into attics)
Note: These sprays won’t kill scorpions instantly. It may take several hours to a few days to see results, so be patient and consistent.
2. Spray Indoors Along Baseboards
Inside your home, a general-purpose product like Ortho Home Defense can help form a secondary barrier. Focus on:
- Baseboards in bedrooms and living areas
- Behind toilets and under sinks
- Around door thresholds and closets
This interior layer helps catch any that sneak past your outdoor defense line.
3. Go Scorpion Hunting with a Blacklight
A strong UV blacklight flashlight is your best friend when it comes to finding scorpions, they glow bright blue-green at night.
Grab a can of Terro Scorpion Killer, and do a quick night patrol both inside and outside a few times a week:
- Scan furniture edges, baseboards, and garage corners
- Check yard rocks, planters, and under patio furniture
- Use tweezers or a grabber tool to safely remove and kill any you find
The more you catch manually, the fewer there are to reproduce.
4. Set Glue Traps Around the House
Strategically place sticky traps in:
- Corners of rooms
- Behind toilets and washers
- Garage floor edges
- Attic access points
Glue traps won’t eliminate an infestation, but they’re great for monitoring activity and showing you where scorpions might be entering.
When a Bark Scorpion Attack Becomes a Medical Emergency
To truly understand the danger bark scorpions pose, it helps to hear from someone who’s lived through the worst of it. A Phoenix resident recently shared on the Reddit community his encounter with an Arizona bark scorpion:
“Saturday night I had a good sized Bark Scorpion get in my house. Isolated it under the coffee table & sprayed the perimeter with a good amount of scorpion spray. I ended up inhaling the spray & had an anaphylactic situation. Called 911 & ended up in the ER, then overnight observation. Lots of Atavan, a breathing treatment & Prednisone. My friend cleaned the floor & searched the entire house, moving furniture, etc. Never found the scorpion. I was on the couch for awhile Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & today. Even took a couple of naps there. Tonight I was watching tv and the scorpion must have been hiding in the cushion space or a blanket.
I got 3 stings on the back of my right leg and 2 on my left index finger. Saw the damned thing scurry under the coffee table, but I was in no condition to wage war. I had to get my dogs into another room, gulp liquid Benadryl, call Poison Control, make ice packs, etc. This is the most painful insect sting I have ever experienced. It’s like a knife is stuck in me plus burning & tingling.
So…question…how do I kill this little creep??? I have called an exterminator and will go to a motel for 2 days with my dogs. (I am afraid id to be exposed to any toxins this soon after having anaphylaxis reaction.) It is fast. I have left every light in the house in so that it will stay either under the couch/coffee table in the couch. I am in too much pain to sleep. I need to know what is the best way to kill it without using a spray. My gut reaction is to take my dogs & valuables to the car & set the house on fire, but this scoprion would probably survive. Please tell me your most effective method for killing these evil arachnids! Picture is of my 66 year old leg with 3 scorpion stings.“
Don’t Wait for a Sting. Take Action Today
If you’ve spotted even one scorpion, chances are it’s not alone, and the rest are hiding where you can’t see them. We get it. Dealing with pests in Phoenix isn’t easy. That’s why Spark Pest Control builds custom scorpion protection plans tailored to your home, your neighborhood, and your peace of mind. We’re not just another pest control company; we live here, too. Our team treat every home like it’s our own. Call us now!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are bark scorpions common in Phoenix?
Yes, bark scorpions are common in Phoenix. They’re found in the entire Maricopa County. These scorpions inhabit the Sonoran Desert climate and are expanding in neighborhoods.
2. How dangerous is a bark scorpion sting?
The Arizona bark scorpion can cause serious, intense pain, numbness, muscle twitching, and difficulty of breathing. Their bite is most dangerous for young children, elderly, pets, and people with certain allergies.
3. How can I tell if it’s a bark scorpion or another type?
Bark scorpions have:
- A thin body and narrow pincers
- A tail that curls tightly over their back
- The unique ability to climb walls and ceilings
- A glowing blue-green color under blacklight
Other desert scorpions tend to be bulkier and stay closer to the ground.
4. When are bark scorpions most active in Phoenix?
Scorpions are usually active at night because they are nocturnal. They are easy to spot when it is warmer months, from May to October. As well as after monsoon storms, where their hiding spots are affected.
5. Where do bark scorpions usually hide inside a home?
Indoors, bark scorpions often hide in:
- Dark closets
- Under baseboards
- Behind furniture
- Inside shoes, towels, or laundry piles
- Bathrooms and laundry rooms (near water)
Their flat shape allows them to slip into tiny spaces.
6. Can bark scorpions climb walls or get into my attic?
Yes! They can scale vertical walls, crawl across ceilings, and even cling to curtains. Don’t be surprised if they find their way into attics, vents, or high shelves; they’re more agile than most people realize.
7. How do I find bark scorpions at night?
You can make use of a UV blacklight flashlight to spot them. Bark scorpions willl appear as blue-green under UV light. In this way, you can detect them easily at your house.
8. What’s the best way to keep bark scorpions out of my house?
Prevent them by:
- Sealing cracks and gaps around your home
- Installing door sweeps and weather stripping
- Keeping yard debris, firewood, and rocks away from the house
- Reducing moisture and fixing leaks
- Scheduling seasonal pest treatments, especially before monsoon season
9. What should I do if someone is stung by a bark scorpion?
First, wash the sting with soap and water, then apply a cool compress to help ease the pain. If the person’s feeling numb or having trouble breathing, call poison control immediately at 1-800-222-1222.
10. Do I need professional help for bark scorpions, or can I handle it myself?
DIY efforts may work temporarily for bark scorpions. But they are persistent and cannot be eliminated easily. The best choice you can make is to hire a licensed pest control expert who specializes in scorpion control.
