How To Get Rid Of Scorpions | Do-It-Yourself Pest Control

Inspecting Your Home for Scorpions

Before applying treatments, inspect areas where scorpions may hide. Wear gloves, shoes, and long clothing for protection.

Outside Inspection:

• Under mulch, pine straw, and wood chips

• Under flower pots, stones, and retaining walls

• Coiled hoses and foundation cracks

• Under temporary shelters like plywood with rocks on top

Inside Inspection:

• Attics and garages (striped bark scorpions are common here)

• Closets, shoes, and piles of clothing

• Curtains and curtain rods

• Beneath furniture

Pro Tip: Use a UV Tracker Light to detect scorpions at night. They fluoresce under UV, making them easier to spot.

Common Scorpion Species in the U.S.

1. Striped Bark Scorpion

• Size: Up to 2 ¾ inches

• Color: Yellowish-brown with two dark stripes along its back

• Habitat: Indoors and outdoors under vegetation, debris, and rural structures

• Sting: Mild swelling; not typically deadly

2. Arizona Bark Scorpion

• Size: 2.7–3.1 inches

• Color: Pale yellow, turning orange after molting

• Habitat: Homes, tree bark, walls, ceilings

• Sting: Painful and potentially dangerous; seek medical attention if stung

3. Arizona Stripetail Scorpion

• Size: 2–3 inches

• Color: Pale yellow with darker stripes on the tail segment

• Habitat: Rock crevices, under bark, and desert regions

• Sting: Mildly painful; not considered life-threatening

4. Arizona Hairy Scorpion

• Size: Up to 6 inches

• Color: Yellowish body with darker back and furry appearance

• Habitat: Deserts, sandy areas, under rocks and logs

• Sting: Painful; mild swelling; generally not harmful to humans

5. California Common Scorpion

• Size: 1.5–3 inches

• Color: Light tan to brown

• Habitat: Arid regions, under debris, rocks, and vegetation

• Sting: Painful; not medically serious for most people

Knowing the species helps determine the best scorpion pest control strategy.