Arizona Bark ScorpionCited field reference
Myths

Myths vs. facts

Direct answer

Most of what circulates about bark scorpions is wrong in the same few ways: they are not aggressive, babies are not more venomous than adults, they do not sting themselves to death when surrounded by fire, and glowing under UV has nothing to do with danger.[1][2] Here is each myth with the evidence.

By Devon "The Scorpion Guy" at ArizonaBarkScorpion.orgPublished 2026-09-12Last reviewed 2026-09-12Editorial policy
MythWhat the evidence shows
Scorpions are aggressive and attack people.They avoid people and sting defensively. Most stings happen when someone contacts a hidden scorpion: a bare foot, a hand in a shoe or towel, rolling onto one in bed.[1][3]
Baby scorpions are more dangerous than adults.Venom potency is a property of the species, not the individual's age. Smaller scorpions inject less venom, not more potent venom.[1]
Scorpions sting themselves to death when surrounded by fire.A folk story. The writhing seen in heat is a stress response, not deliberate self-envenomation.[1][4]
A glowing scorpion is a special, dangerous kind.Nearly every scorpion species fluoresces under UV. The glow is cuticle chemistry and says nothing about venom.[2][5]
All scorpion stings in Arizona are dangerous.Of Arizona's 40 to 60 species, only the bark scorpion is considered medically significant to a healthy adult; the others hurt like a bee sting.[6][7]
Scorpions hunt in packs.They are solitary hunters and will eat each other. The clusters people find in winter are shared shelter, not cooperation.[5]
Scorpions are blind.They have median and lateral eyes and can detect light, but they navigate mainly by vibration, touch, and chemical sensing through pectines and sensory hairs.[1][4]
Spraying the house perimeter solves the problem.Extension research finds pesticide alone is largely ineffective; scorpions stilt above residues and disperse rather than die. Exclusion and habitat modification are what work.[5][8]
A bark scorpion sting is a death sentence.Two confirmed Arizona deaths since 1968 against tens of thousands of stings a year. Severe cases are treatable with antivenom.[9][10]
Benadryl or an EpiPen will help a sting.UArizona Health Sciences advises against both: the reaction is neurotoxic, not allergic, and they can worsen heart rate and blood pressure.[11]

Why do these myths persist?

Because the animal is small, nocturnal, and hard to observe, and because most people's only encounter is a painful one. Fear fills the gap. The pages on this site linked from each row hold the fuller evidence, and the references page lists every source.

Cite this pageDevon "The Scorpion Guy" at ArizonaBarkScorpion.org. "Arizona Bark Scorpion Myths vs. Facts." 2026-09-12. https://arizonabarkscorpion.org/myths/

Related

Sources for this page

  1. 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
  2. Arizona State University, Ask A Biologist. Ultraviolet Scorpions. askabiologist.asu.edu/ultraviolet-scorpionTier 2
  3. 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
  4. Putnam C. Not So Scary Scorpions. Arizona State University, Ask A Biologist, 2009. askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/not-so-scary-scorpionsTier 2
  5. 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
  6. Arizona Department of Agriculture. Scorpions (Household Pests). agriculture.az.gov/pests-pest-control/household-pests/scorpionsTier 1
  7. Gouge DH, Li S, Bibbs C, Nair S. Scorpions of the Desert Southwest United States. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, publication AZ1768, 2018. acis.cals.arizona.edu/community-ipm/community-ipm-output/publications/publications-view/scorpions-of-the-desert-southwest-united-statesTier 1
  8. 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
  9. Wikipedia contributors. Arizona bark scorpion. Wikipedia (cross-reference; consult its citations for primary sources). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_bark_scorpionTier 2
  10. 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
  11. 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