Do outdoor holiday lights attract scorpions?
Written by the Hydra Pest Control team, Arizona-licensed (license #9790)
Last reviewed:
Short answer
Not directly. Outdoor lights, holiday lights included, draw moths, crickets, beetles and other insects, and scorpions come to hunt them. University of California IPM says outdoor lights attract insects and thus the scorpions that feed on insects, and it recommends yellow outdoor lighting where scorpions are common. University of Arizona Extension says bark scorpions are less active from November to March, but they don't disappear.
Arizona context
Arizona's holiday season falls in the bark scorpion's slow season. University of Arizona Extension says bark scorpions are active for most of the year in low desert areas, are less active during the coolest months (November to March), and during the coldest periods cluster in groups in weather-protected, enclosed and undisturbed spaces. Another University of Arizona Extension publication says scorpions are found from mountaintops to desert floors, and that bark scorpions use wood piles, sheds and other aboveground protected spots. So whether you're decorating in the Gila Valley, Sierra Vista or the White Mountains, the boxes you bring out of storage deserve as much care as the lights you hang.
Holiday tips to keep scorpions away
- Use yellow bulbs in porch and patio lights where you can, since yellow light draws fewer insects
- Wear leather gloves when you move boxes and decorations stored in the garage, shed or yard
- Check stored decorations with a UV flashlight before you bring them inside. Scorpions glow under UV light
- Route light cords so doors and windows still close tight, and keep door sweeps and weather-stripping snug
- If you bring firewood in, put it directly on the fire instead of storing it indoors
- Wear shoes when you walk outside at night, and slippers or flip-flops indoors
- Cut down crickets and cockroaches around the house, since they are scorpion food
Why lights bring scorpions closer
Scorpions spend the daylight hours under cover and come out at night to ambush prey, University of Arizona Extension says. They eat insects, spiders and centipedes, and bark scorpions feed on crickets, cockroaches and many other insects.
Light pulls in that food. University of California IPM says outdoor lights attract insects and thus the scorpions that feed on insects, and it describes the Arizona hairy scorpion as a night feeder drawn to outside lights where beetles, cockroaches, crickets, moths and other insects gather. A University of Arizona entomologist also notes that male cockroaches are attracted to light.
Food near the house matters indoors, too. University of Arizona Extension says that if there is a cricket or cockroach infestation, scorpions may become more common indoors because they have a ready food source.
Which lights draw fewer insects
University of California IPM says yellow outdoor lighting is less attractive to insects and recommends it in areas where scorpions are common.
In a peer-reviewed study of residential lamps, every lamp tested attracted more insects and other arthropods than no light at all. The researchers note that ultraviolet and blue light are usually the most attractive, and they found that LED lamps generally attracted substantially fewer moths and other arthropods than compact fluorescent lamps of the same color temperature.
Holiday decorations and scorpions
University of Arizona Extension says scorpions can be brought into a home hidden in firewood, and can get in through poorly maintained door sweeps and window screens. It advises wearing leather gloves when moving objects in yards, and shaking out clothes, shoes and other items that have been on the floor if you've seen scorpions indoors.
Bark scorpions get in under and around poorly fitted doorways, through window vents and through weep holes, University of Arizona Extension says, and it recommends weather-stripping and tight door sweeps. If a light cord keeps a door or window from closing tight, it leaves the same kind of gap.
In the coldest months bark scorpions cluster in enclosed, undisturbed spaces. University of Arizona Extension says groups turn up when block walls are removed or walls are opened up during winter remodeling.
When professional service is warranted
If you regularly find scorpions inside, University of Arizona Extension recommends a pest management professional experienced with scorpions. It says pest-proofing the home is by far the most effective way to reduce scorpion contact and stings, and that eliminating crickets and other insects can help but will not eliminate scorpions from around a home. If anyone is stung, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. This is general information, not medical advice.
How Hydra handles it
Our Service Pros look for where scorpions, and the crickets and cockroaches they feed on, are getting in and hiding around your home, and treat those areas. To talk it through, call or text your local office to reach an Office Pro, or ask for a free custom quote.
Frequently asked
Are scorpions attracted to light?
Not to the light itself. University of Arizona Extension says scorpions spend daylight hours under cover and hunt at night. University of California IPM says outdoor lights attract insects and thus the scorpions that feed on insects. So a bright porch or a lit-up yard can bring scorpions closer by bringing them food.
Do LED lights attract fewer bugs?
In one peer-reviewed study, LED lamps generally attracted substantially fewer moths and other arthropods than compact fluorescent lamps of the same color temperature. Every lamp tested still attracted more than no light at all, and ultraviolet and blue light are usually the most attractive. University of California IPM recommends yellow outdoor lighting where scorpions are common.
Are scorpions active in Arizona in December?
Less, but they're still around. University of Arizona Extension says bark scorpions are active for most of the year in low desert areas and less active from November to March. During the coldest periods they cluster in groups in protected, enclosed and undisturbed spaces, and groups can turn up when walls are opened during winter remodeling.
Can scorpions hide in stored holiday decorations?
Stored items can give them shelter. University of Arizona Extension says bark scorpions use sheds and other aboveground protected spots, and in winter they cluster in enclosed, undisturbed spaces. Wear leather gloves when you move stored boxes, and shake out anything that has been sitting on the floor.
What should I do if I'm stung by a scorpion?
Call Arizona Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. University of Arizona Extension notes it is a free, confidential service available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is general information, not medical advice.
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Related questions
References
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Scorpions of the Desert Southwest United States (AZ1768)
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Scorpions (Backyard Gardener #184)
- University of California IPM: Scorpions Pest Note
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Monsoon brings some unwanted pests to life and forces others inside (Aug. 17, 2026)
- Longcore et al. 2015, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Tuning the white light spectrum of LED lamps to reduce attraction of nocturnal arthropods
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