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Scorpion Season in the Valley is Quickly Approaching

Spring temperatures are rising, and that means one thing: scorpion season is here. 

By mid-March most scorpions will be fully out and active, and they won’t disappear again until the nightly temperature drops into the 40s in late November.

There are over 40 known species of scorpions in Arizona, with one scorpion, the Arizona Bark Scorpion, posing a serious threat to humans. Although no deaths from scorpion stings have been reported in Arizona over the past 40 and there is antivenom available for serious cases, scorpions are still a real nuisance to many Phoenix area residents. 


Ben Holland from the scorpion sweepers has been overflowing with calls from people saying they have spotted scorpions emerging recently. “They’re not going to have eaten for a while, so they’re going to be pretty active initially,” Holland notes.  According to Holland, crickets are a main food source for scorpions, so if you see crickets around your home, there’s a good chance you’ll attract hungry scorpions. They also eat beetles, spiders, and other small insects, so all of those critters can signal conditions ripe for scorpion infestation.

Because of this, scorpions are attracted to the same things that draw other annoying insects and pests, including moisture, decomposing bark or wood, and dark places.  This is why many people who are stung by scorpions are stung while lifting up wood from a woodpile or disturbing other moist debris. Homeowners trying to prevent scorpions should start by removing this kind of scorpion habitat.

Besides reducing scorpion habitat, homeowners can take more direct steps to eliminate existing scorpion infestations. There are chemical solutions available for killing scorpions, but these chemicals can be harmful and their effectiveness is still under debate. That’s why Ben Holland prefers a to do scorpion population control by using ultraviolet lights to find and then remove scorpions. Because scorpions glow under the light, he is also able to identify their hideouts and permanently remove their homes to prevent re-infestation.