Arizona Bark ScorpionCited field reference
Biology

Habitat and range

Direct answer

The Arizona bark scorpion is a Sonoran Desert species found throughout Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora, with lower-density populations in southeastern California along the Colorado River, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, western New Mexico, far-west Texas, Baja California, and Chihuahua.[1][2] It favors rocky ground and tree-lined washes, and it thrives in irrigated suburbs.[1][3]

By Devon "The Scorpion Guy" at ArizonaBarkScorpion.orgPublished 2026-09-12Last reviewed 2026-09-12Editorial policy
Schematic range map of the Arizona bark scorpion Core range shaded across all of Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora; lower-density range in southeastern California along the Colorado River, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, western New Mexico, far-west Texas, Baja California and Chihuahua. UTAH NEVADA CALIFORNIA ARIZONA NEW MEXICO TEXAS SONORA CHIHUAHUA BAJA Core range Lower density / marginal Colorado River corridor Schematic block map, not to scale. Sources: Agnew et al. 2026 (JIPM); Wikipedia range summary.
Figure 1. Schematic range map. Core range in Arizona and Sonora; marginal range in the neighboring states. Not to scale.[1][2]

Where exactly does it occur?

Across essentially all of Arizona, from the low desert to the rim country, and south through Sonora.[1] Along the Colorado River it extends into California's Imperial and Riverside counties; in Nevada it occurs around Las Vegas and the southern tip of the state; in Utah in the St. George area; in New Mexico in the western counties; and in Mexico into Baja California and Chihuahua.[1][2] The Grand Canyon's inner canyon has a well-known population.[4] iNaturalist's observation map shows the live picture from thousands of verified sightings.[5]

What habitat does it prefer?

Rocky terrain and riparian corridors with mesquite, cottonwood, and sycamore, where moisture and prey are dependable and loose bark and rock crevices offer daytime shelter.[1][6] It is not a burrower, so it needs pre-existing cover.[7] In the wild that means bark, rock fissures, and leaf litter; in a neighborhood it means block-wall cavities, weep screeds, woodpiles, irrigation boxes, and the underside of anything left on the ground.[3][8]

Why does it do so well around homes?

Because a Phoenix subdivision is a better desert than the desert. Irrigation adds moisture, landscaping and lighting concentrate the insects it eats, and block walls, stucco, and foundation gaps provide thousands of ideal crevices.[3][1] A 2014 UArizona study found that 95% of bark scorpions offered a choice of refuges chose block-wall-type crevices.[8] A gap of about 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) is enough for an adult to pass, so ordinary construction is porous to it.[2]

How high and how cold can it go?

It is most abundant in the low desert but occurs into the transition zone; activity drops sharply once nighttime lows fall below about 77°F (25°C), and in winter it clusters in sheltered crevices, sometimes dozens to hundreds to one site.[7][1] Hard freezes limit its northern and upper-elevation range.

Is its range expanding?

Records outside the core range, such as the Las Vegas population, are widely believed to have arrived with landscaping material and construction, but this site has not found a peer-reviewed study that tracks range change over time. That is an open question.[1]

What is not knownWhether the range is expanding with urbanization and warming; the mechanism behind outlying populations.
Cite this pageDevon "The Scorpion Guy" at ArizonaBarkScorpion.org. "Arizona Bark Scorpion Habitat and Range Map." 2026-09-12. https://arizonabarkscorpion.org/habitat-range/

Related

Sources for this page

  1. 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
  2. Wikipedia contributors. Arizona bark scorpion. Wikipedia (cross-reference; consult its citations for primary sources). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_bark_scorpionTier 2
  3. University of Arizona ACIS Community IPM. Scorpions (Public Health IPM). acis.cals.arizona.edu/community-ipm/public-health-ipm/scorpionsTier 1
  4. National Park Service, Grand Canyon National Park. Bark Scorpion. Updated April 2025. www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/bark-scorpion.htmTier 1
  5. iNaturalist. Centruroides sculpturatus taxon page and observation map. www.inaturalist.org/taxa/143985-Centruroides-sculpturatusTier 2
  6. Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner / Weights and Measures. Arizona Bark Scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) identification bulletin, 2008. file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/acwm/215638_ArizonaBarkScorpion.pdfTier 1
  7. Schalau J. Scorpions. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Backyard Gardener #184, June 13, 2024. www.extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/attachment/Scorpions.pdfTier 1
  8. Bibbs CS, Bengston SE, Gouge DH. Exploration of Refuge Preference in the Arizona Bark Scorpion (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Environmental Entomology 43(5), 2014. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25203773/Tier 1