How can I tell if a scorpion is an Arizona bark scorpion?
Written by the Hydra Pest Control team, Arizona-licensed (license #9790)
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Short answer
Check its build and where you found it. The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center says the bark scorpion has more slender tail segments and pincers than other Arizona scorpions, and University of California IPM says its tail is only about 1/16 inch wide. It is the only common climbing scorpion, so one on a wall or ceiling is likely a bark scorpion. University of Arizona Extension calls it the most commonly encountered house scorpion.
Arizona context
Whether you live in the Gila Valley or Sierra Vista, this is the scorpion to learn to recognize. University of California IPM says the bark scorpion is found throughout Arizona, and University of Arizona Extension says it is common around buildings of all kinds in low desert areas, often around homes and hollow block perimeter walls. UA Extension also cites a study of scorpion exposures reported to U.S. poison centers from 2005 to 2015 that found 98% happened in or around homes.
What to do if you think it's a bark scorpion
- Don't grab it with bare hands. University of Arizona Extension says most stings happen when a scorpion is accidentally grabbed, crushed against the body or stepped on
- Check walls, ceilings and bedrooms at night with a UV flashlight, since scorpions glow under black light
- Shake out shoes, clothing and towels before you use them, and keep them off the floor
- Look for gaps where scorpions get in: poorly fitted doors, window vents and weep holes
- If anyone is stung, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away
Signs it's a bark scorpion
Look at the build first. University of Arizona Extension describes adults as having relatively slender appendages and a long, slender tail. The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center says you can tell the bark scorpion from other, less toxic species by its more slender tail segments and pincers, and University of California IPM says its tail is only about 1/16 inch wide.
Then look at where it is. University of California IPM says the bark scorpion is the only common climbing scorpion and does not normally burrow. University of Arizona Extension says it scales walls, crosses ceilings and easily moves across textured walls, and in the daytime it hides in crevices: in walls, under rocks, logs and tree bark, and inside wall voids. UA Extension adds that bark scorpions are not territorial and often live together, so finding several at once is common.
Don't rely on color or size alone. University of California IPM describes the bark scorpion's body as yellow without stripes or patterns, but University of Arizona Extension says its coloration and markings are highly variable, with some pale and others darker with stripes or checkered patterning. UA Extension lists adults at 2 to 3 inches long, while the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center says they reach only about an inch and a half at maturity.
Common look-alikes
Arizona giant hairy scorpion: University of Arizona Extension calls it the largest scorpion in the U.S. It is heavy bodied, adults often exceed 5 inches, and it often has a darker body with pale sides. It spends most of its time under rocks and in shallow burrows, its venom is mild, and UA Extension notes that it eats bark scorpions.
Stripe-tailed scorpion and yellow ground scorpion: University of Arizona Extension says both are burrowing species, full grown at less than 3 inches, and often mistaken for bark scorpions. The stripe-tailed scorpion is heavily armored, with bulkier pincers and tail. The yellow ground scorpion has more delicate pincers, but its tail is wider and much bulkier than a bark scorpion's.
A black light won't settle it. University of California IPM says scorpions glow brightly under black light, which makes them easy to find, but you still need to check the build to know which kind you found.
When professional service is warranted
If you find bark scorpions indoors more than once, or several at a time, look for where they are living and getting in. University of Arizona Extension says bark scorpions often live together, sometimes in dense populations, and that once inside walls they can move through the building and come out around electrical faceplates and pipe collars. If anyone is stung, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. UA Extension says that if a child 9 or under, or under 70 pounds, is stung, call 911 or Poison Control, or go to the nearest hospital right away. This is general information, not medical advice.
How Hydra handles it
Our Service Pros look for where scorpions are getting in and hiding around your home and treat those areas. Not sure what you found? Call or text your local office to reach an Office Pro, or ask for a free custom quote.
Frequently asked
Do bark scorpions glow under a black light?
Yes, but so do other scorpions. University of California IPM says scorpions glow brightly under black light, which makes them easy to find and remove. A UV flashlight helps you spot them, but to tell a bark scorpion from a look-alike, check the build: slender pincers and a thin tail, about 1/16 inch wide.
Is the big hairy scorpion more dangerous than the bark scorpion?
No. University of Arizona Extension says the Arizona giant hairy scorpion, the largest scorpion in the U.S., has a mild venom, and that the Arizona bark scorpion is the only scorpion of medical concern in the U.S. All native scorpions can sting, but UA Extension says only bark scorpion stings are hazardous to human health. So bigger doesn't mean more dangerous.
Can I tell a bark scorpion by its color?
Not reliably. University of California IPM describes the bark scorpion as yellow without stripes or patterns, and University of Arizona Health Sciences calls it a small light brown scorpion. But University of Arizona Extension says its coloration and markings are highly variable: some are pale, and others are darker with stripes or checkered patterning. Look for slender pincers, a thin tail and whether it was climbing.
What should I do if a bark scorpion stings me?
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away. The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center says stings can cause immediate local pain with minimal swelling, plus numbness and tingling that may travel across the body, and that small children are at the highest risk of severe reactions. Its first aid steps include cleaning the site with soap and water and using a cool compress. University of Arizona Extension says that if a child 9 or under, or under 70 pounds, is stung, call 911 or Poison Control, or go to the nearest hospital right away. 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 California IPM: Scorpions Pest Note
- Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center: Scorpions
- University of Arizona Health Sciences: What You Need to Know About Scorpion Stings (Anne-Michelle Ruha, MD)
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