Arizona Bark ScorpionCited field reference
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Arizona bark scorpion facts for kids

Direct answer

The Arizona bark scorpion is a small, tan scorpion that lives in the desert, glows under a blacklight, climbs walls, hunts bugs at night, and carries its babies on its back. It can sting, so you look but never touch, and you always shake out your shoes.[1][2]

By Devon "The Scorpion Guy" at ArizonaBarkScorpion.orgPublished 2026-09-12Last reviewed 2026-09-12Editorial policy
Arizona bark scorpion with fun-fact callouts The scorpion illustration with four callouts: eight legs plus two pincers, glows under UV light, babies ride on mom, and it is an arachnid not an insect. subaculear tooth 8 legs + 2 pincers Glows under UV! Babies ride on mom Arachnid, not insect
Figure 1. Four things to know.

Is a scorpion an insect?

No! Scorpions are arachnids, like spiders. Insects have six legs; scorpions have eight legs, plus two pincers in front.[1] Count them on the picture.

Does it really glow in the dark?

Under an ultraviolet flashlight, yes. Its skin has a chemical that turns UV light into a bright greenish glow. Scientists still are not sure why.[3] Even an old shed skin glows.

Female Arizona bark scorpion on a block wall under UV light carrying a cluster of about 20 pale scorplings on her back
A real scorpion mom with about 20 babies riding on her back, glowing under a blacklight. (Yes, the speech bubbles are a joke.) Photo: Devon "The Scorpion Guy", arizonabarkscorpion.org. Field observation, Phoenix area.

Do scorpions lay eggs?

No. Scorpion moms give birth to live babies, sometimes 30 at once. The babies are white and soft, and they ride on their mom's back for a week or two until they molt, which means shedding their skin to grow.[4][2]

What does it eat?

Crickets, cockroaches, beetles, and spiders. It hunts at night by feeling vibrations with tiny hairs on its legs.[4][5] Owls, bats, and a brave little mouse called the grasshopper mouse eat scorpions.[6]

Why is it on the ceiling?

Bark scorpions are the only scorpions around here that can climb walls. They like to hang upside down in tight, dark places during the day.[4]

Is it dangerous?

Its sting hurts a lot, and for little kids it can make the body feel weird: eyes moving on their own, drooling, or twitching. Doctors have a medicine for that. If anyone gets stung, tell a grown-up right away and they can call the poison experts at 1-800-222-1222.[7][8]

How do I stay safe?

  • Shake out shoes and clothes before putting them on.[9]
  • Wear shoes outside at night.[10]
  • Do not put your hands where you cannot see, like under rocks or wood.[9]
  • Never touch a scorpion. Look, and tell a grown-up.

Three cool facts

  • A bark scorpion can squeeze through a crack thinner than a coin.[6]
  • Scorpions have been on Earth for over 400 million years, long before dinosaurs.[1]
  • A grasshopper mouse gets stung and feels no pain. Scientists study it to find new medicines.[6]
Cite this pageDevon "The Scorpion Guy" at ArizonaBarkScorpion.org. "Arizona Bark Scorpion Facts for Kids." 2026-09-12. https://arizonabarkscorpion.org/for-kids/

Related

Sources for this page

  1. Putnam C. Not So Scary Scorpions. Arizona State University, Ask A Biologist, 2009. askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/not-so-scary-scorpionsTier 2
  2. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Animal Fact Sheet: Bark Scorpion. www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long-fact-sheets/Bark%20Scorp.phpTier 2
  3. Arizona State University, Ask A Biologist. Ultraviolet Scorpions. askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpionTier 2
  4. Agnew J, Bowers K, Bundy S, Romero A. Distribution, biology, and management of medically relevant bark scorpions, with emphasis on Centruroides sculpturatus. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 17(1), 2026. academic.oup.com/jipm/article/17/1/pmag029/8724371Tier 1
  5. Keener L. Scram! Begone, Scorpion Myths! Bay Nature, October 27, 2022. baynature.org/2022/10/27/spooky-scary-scorpions-actually-not-so-much-you-arent-worth-the-venom/Tier 2
  6. Wikipedia contributors. Arizona bark scorpion. Wikipedia (cross-reference; consult its citations for primary sources). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_bark_scorpionTier 2
  7. Ruha A-M, MD. What You Need to Know About Scorpion Stings. University of Arizona Health Sciences, June 12, 2023. healthsciences.arizona.edu/news/blog/what-you-need-know-about-scorpion-stingsTier 2
  8. Boyer LV, Theodorou AA, Berg RA, et al. Antivenom for Critically Ill Children with Neurotoxicity from Scorpion Stings. New England Journal of Medicine 360(20):2090-2098, 2009. www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0808455Tier 1
  9. University of Arizona ACIS Community IPM. Scorpions (Public Health IPM). acis.cals.arizona.edu/community-ipm/public-health-ipm/scorpionsTier 1
  10. Bennett BK, Boesen KJ, Welch SA, Kang AM. Study of Factors Contributing to Scorpion Envenomation in Arizona. Journal of Medical Toxicology 15(1):30-35, 2018. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6314927/Tier 1