Have you found scorpions inside your Arizona home? If not, you may not be looking hard enough.
Scorpions are common all across Arizona and the American West, with several different species known to infest homes. They’ll hide under your deck, stalk prey in your yard, and they can easily come indoors without ever being noticed.
That’s why we’re here to go over everything you need to understand about scorpion pest control, including their behavior, where they like to infest, and how Burns Pest Elimination can help keep scorpions away.
If Scorpions Are Not Insects, What Are They?
Scorpions are arachnids, just like spiders, but they are considerably older.
In fact, scorpions are among the oldest arthropods (creatures with jointed legs and an exoskeleton) to have ever walked on land. This category includes many modern insects and their relatives, but scorpions have them all beat in terms of age. Their fossil record dates back over 450 million years, compared to only around 380 million years for spiders.
Early scorpions were some of the first animals to make the journey from water to land. Alongside the ancestors of millipedes, they developed the ability to breathe, hunt, and reproduce outside of aquatic environments and paved the way for other arachnids to evolve into distinct species, eventually giving rise to modern pests, including spiders.
Understanding Scorpion Behavior
While their long-gone ancestors likely spent most of their time on land but returned to water to lay eggs, modern scorpions have fully embraced terrestrial life and all the challenges that come with it.
They’ve developed impressive adaptations to retain moisture and survive under the hot Arizona sun. Their thick exoskeletons minimize water loss, and they’re primarily nocturnal, helping them avoid the harsh daytime heat. All these behaviors help them conserve energy and hydration, which is crucial in a desert environment.
From there, it’s their need to stay hydrated, stay cool, and stay hidden that determines where they show up in and around your home.
Scorpions Are Ambush Predators
Scorpions, like many of their spider cousins, are ambush predators. They prefer the sit-and-wait approach to hunting, which is incredibly beneficial when water and food are scarce. Chasing down prey wastes valuable energy, so they opt to lie in wait in spots that are cool, shaded, and frequently visited by other insects, reptiles, and even birds.
In the wild, they’ll hide under rocks, logs, and organic debris, all places that provide both protection from predators and a great vantage point to pounce on unsuspecting prey.
Around your yard, some of their favorite hiding spots include firewood piles, beneath potted plants, in cracks in concrete or your foundation, and within tree bark. That last one is especially important for the Arizona bark scorpion, which is unique in its ability to climb trees and hide at elevated heights.
So yes, this means scorpions can come from above, below, or anywhere around your home.
Why Do Scorpions Come Inside?
Scorpions love your home for many of the same reasons you do. It’s cool throughout the year compared to the oppressive heat outdoors, there’s access to puddles and leaky taps for hydration, and most importantly, there are plenty of tight corners and crevices to hide in.
This might sound like paradise to a scorpion, but for a homeowner, it can quickly turn into a nightmare.
Where Scorpions Like To Show Up at Home
We know why scorpions hide, so let’s take a look at where they’re most commonly found indoors so you can keep scorpions out of the house before they become a problem.
The first, and arguably most problematic, place they like to pop up is in your bathroom.
Bathrooms, especially after a shower, have high humidity levels and condensation on practically every surface.
Scorpions can sense humidity in the air from a distance, even from outside your home, and they’ll follow that trail through gaps, cracks, and even along plumbing lines until they find their way inside. Once they do, they tend to hide under sinks or inside cabinets.
You may hear people say that scorpions are attracted to bathtubs. While they’re not specifically drawn to tubs, they often get stuck in them due to the slick, slippery surface.
Scorpions will also target any dark and out-of-the-way area, making closets a favorite location. They’ll squeeze into shaded spots between cardboard boxes, under blankets, or even hide on shelves. If they find their way into a rarely used room, several scorpions could move in long before anyone notices.
For scorpions, the messier it is, the more appealing it becomes. So, keep your closet, attic, garage, and other storage areas organized to give them fewer places to hide.
Keep Scorpions Away With Burns Pest Elimination
The best way to get rid of scorpions is with professional help from Burns Pest Elimination.
We know Arizona scorpions inside and out, from their seasonal behavior to their favorite hiding spots. Our expert technicians use proven exclusion methods to stop scorpions at the source and prevent them from returning, whether you’re seeing just one or suspect a larger issue.
Contact us today to schedule your inspection and enjoy peace of mind.
