If I find one scorpion in my house, are there more?
Written by the Hydra Pest Control team, Arizona-licensed (license #9790)
Last reviewed:
Short answer
Possibly. One scorpion can be a wanderer, but Arizona bark scorpions, the species most often found in homes, are not territorial and usually live near others, sometimes in dense groups where food and water are plentiful. Around buildings they hide in walls and block fences and usually go unnoticed until they get inside. Treat one indoor bark scorpion as a reason to check for more and to seal entry points.
Arizona context
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension says homes and buildings with irrigated landscapes can support bark scorpion populations much higher than desert wild-land areas, and that 98% of scorpion exposures reported to U.S. Poison Help hotlines happened in or around homes. In research on where bark scorpions shelter, 95% preferred hollow block walls over other options. Once inside a wall, they can move through the building and come out around electrical faceplates and pipe collars. Not every scorpion lives this way: most other desert southwest species live alone most of the time.
What to look for
- You find scorpions inside more than once
- Scorpions turn up in sinks, tubs or beds, since bark scorpions climb walls and can fall from ceilings
- Hollow block walls, rocks, woodpiles or debris sit close to the house
- Irrigated landscaping near the home, which can support much larger populations
What you can do
- Check for more with a UV flashlight inside your home before bedtime
- Install weather-stripping and tight-fitting door sweeps on exterior doors
- Screen weep holes with coarse steel mesh. Don't plug or seal them, because they vent the wall
- Caulk around roof eaves, pipes and other wall openings, and keep window screens tight and in good repair
- Keep wood, rocks, clutter and debris from building up against the house, and trim branches away from the roof
- Stucco and cap hollow block walls to make them less inviting to scorpions
- Keep shoes, towels and clothing off the floor
Why one scorpion can turn up on its own
Bark scorpions can travel. Researchers have recorded one moving up to 114 yards, nearly the length of a football field. They move to escape extreme heat, when irrigation or monsoon rain floods their hiding spots, and when building or landscape work disturbs the ground. Typical nightly trips around buildings are shorter, under about 35 yards. A single scorpion after a storm or nearby construction may be a wanderer, but repeat sightings are a sign to take action.
In the coolest months, November through March, bark scorpions are less active, and during the coldest periods they gather in groups in sheltered, undisturbed spaces. Groups are sometimes found when block walls are removed or walls are opened up during remodeling.
When professional service is warranted
If you regularly find scorpions inside, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension recommends a pest management professional experienced with scorpions. Scorpions are hard to manage with pesticides alone, and pest-proofing the home is by far the most effective way to reduce scorpion contact and stings. If anyone is stung, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center). For a child 9 or younger, or under 70 pounds, call 911 or Poison Control, or go to the nearest hospital right away. This page 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. To talk it through, call or text your local office to reach an Office Pro, or ask for a free custom quote.
Frequently asked
If I see one scorpion, does that mean there are more?
Partly true. A single scorpion can wander in on its own, especially after monsoon rain, irrigation flooding or nearby construction. But Arizona bark scorpions usually live near others, shelter in wall voids and block walls, and gather in groups to overwinter. One bark scorpion indoors is a good reason to check for more, not proof of an infestation.
Where do bark scorpions hide in and around a house?
During the day they shelter in crevices: inside walls, under rocks, logs and tree bark, in hollow block walls and in small animal burrows. They get inside under poorly fitted doors, through window vents, through openings in exterior walls and through weep holes, and they can come out of walls around electrical faceplates and pipe collars.
Can I get rid of every scorpion around my home?
Probably not. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension says scorpions are extremely difficult to eradicate, and that wiping them out of a landscape would take unhealthy and illegal pesticide use. The practical goal is keeping them out of the house by pest-proofing it and clearing the clutter where they hide.
What should I do if someone is stung?
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away for advice. Wash the area with soap and water and use a cool compress. For a child 9 or younger, or under 70 pounds, call 911 or Poison Control, or go to the nearest hospital immediately. This is general information, not medical advice.
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