Moving to Arizona or Nevada and want to learn about Scorpions?

  The photo above is a Bark Scorpion with her brood of new borns on her back.

The Bark Scorpion is the number one most popular scorpion in the southwest. Unfortunately, it is the most venomous of scorpions in the United States. 

  If you are planning to move to Arizona or Southern Nevada or already live here, you might be curious about these creatures. We will try to cover the most important points in this article.

First a little about Bark Scorpions

  Bark Scorpions are found all throughout Arizona, Southern Nevada, New Mexico, and even Texas. Here in Arizona, they are plentiful and quite resilient. During the summer months, they thrive and are most active. Winter and fall is a hibernation period for them. Although, the past few years the winters in Arizona (especially the phoenix area) have been on the mild side. We depend on winter freezes to reduce the number of scorpions by freezing them to death. A bark scorpion needs to be in a frozen state for more than six hours in order for it to die. Normally here in the desert, we have two or three freezes during the winter months. However, for the past four years, this has not been the case. Therefore, there has been no reduction in scorpion population. 

Bark Scorpions are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. When temperatures exceed ninety degrees throughout the night, they are out and about. 

  Please understand that everyone here does not have scorpions on their properties or in their homes. As a matter of fact, many people that live here have never seen a scorpion. However, many have and have to deal with them daily. Living closer to the outer perimeter of the valley brings you closer to desert wildlife. Phoenix being a valley, this would be the case for any town on the outside of the valley. If you live in downtown Phoenix, chances are you will never see a scorpion. But living in Gilbert, Surprise, or Scottsdale, there is a better chance of having them present. 

Phoenix has drain washes running throughout for rain waters to run through. Living near a wash or open land will also increase the possibility of having them near. 

  Moisture is the biggest attractant of Bark Scorpions. Some of the Pest Control Companies will claim that it is the food source that attracts them to your property. They suggest that if you have your property treated with pesticides on a regular basis to eliminate other insects, you will eliminate the scorpions as well. This is a very misleading statement. Firstly, scorpions eat very infrequently. Once a scorpion eats, it most likely will go weeks before another meal. However, they will always be seeking moisture. This is why you often find a scorpion in the shower, tub, or sink. Some people think they come up through the plumbing. This is not so. They wander into the sink, tub, or shower sensing the water. Since they cannot climb smooth surfaces, they are unable to get out. We will get into that a little later. 

  Let’s talk about the sting. It is a sting, not a bite. On the tip of their tail is their stinger, which, when used, omits a venom. This ability is mainly used for disabling their prey and for protection. Scorpions are not aggressive creatures. They are not going to chase after you. When they sting a human or pet, they are protecting themselves from harm. Most of the time when we get stung, we don’t see the scorpion before the sting. Maybe we were going to step on it, or we put our hands somewhere without looking first, or one crawled on us unseen. 

  The sting has a varied effect on each individual. Some experience a level of discomfort or pain similar to a bee sting. Others can suffer for a couple of days. In rare cases, hospitalization may be required. Basically, the people most at risk are the elderly and the young. The young because they have not built up their tolerances yet, and the elderly because they are losing them. 

  As you see in the photo above, a female scorpion can have a brood of as many as 35 babies at a time. So the one thing you do not want is a pregnant female in your home.

What can be done to prevent scorpions in your home

  There are a number of things you can do to reduce the number of scorpions in your home. To eliminate them, there is only one system available, the DIY Scorpion Pest Control Pest Border Eco Barrier System. It provides 100% entry elimination and even eliminates other pests as well. We will get to that in the following discussion.

  Conventional pesticide pest control and spraying of chemicals and powders might reduce the numbers of scorpions in and around your home. However, what you need to know is that no matter what you are told, these are poisonous materials. They are highly suspected of causing everything from cancers, autism, ADHD, respiratory problems, and more. You see, the companies that produce these chemicals are giant manufacturers. Money is their driving force.

In addition, scorpions are of the arachnid family (spiders). They do not drag their underside along the ground. When they enter a treated area and walk over the pesticide, the only part exposed is the tips of their appendages or little feet. This is not enough exposure to kill them.

Also, they do not groom themselves like cockroaches, so the poison is not spread on their bodies. It must be a direct hit with the poison, or they need to squeeze through an area or crack that has been treated contacting their body in order for them to die.

  Natural deterrents like lilac, and some oils, are said to deter scorpions, not eliminate. Diatemacious earth can kill them but its messy, has to be replenished often and is said to be a carcinogenic.

  Home sealing fills any cracks or openings on your home exterior and interior that are visible. The problem is, there are more areas that cannot be filled than there are that can. This method was brought about due to desperation. You cannot seal the weep holes that surround your home. Nor can you seal the tile roof above your head. These are the two most common entry points for scorpions and other pests. So again, home sealing will reduce the entry points. However, it in no way eliminates them.

  Black light hunting is popular. Many people go out after dark with a black light flashlight and hunt down scorpions. When the black light shines on a scorpion, they glow a greenish color. They are easily spotted. Reducing the number of scorpions on your property can reduce the number that have access to your home. But there are always more.

  The only effective solution to keeping scorpions out of your home is with a physical barrier that in no way can be crossed. Scorpions do not fly, dig, or jump. They must climb onto your home to get inside your home. Keeping scorpions completely off the home eliminates the possibility of them getting into the home. Scorpions are completely unable to climb a smooth surface such as metal or glass. The company Pest Borders manufactures a DIY Scorpion Pest Control Barrier or border. It is installed on the very bottom of the home, stopping them from getting on or in the home.