Arizona Bark ScorpionCited field reference
Prevention

The science of keeping bark scorpions out

Direct answer

University research and extension guidance agree that bark scorpions cannot be controlled with pesticides alone; what works is sealing the structure (they pass a 1.6 mm gap), removing harborage against the foundation, breaking climbing bridges, adding smooth barriers they cannot climb, and monitoring with a UV flashlight.[1][2][3]

By Devon "The Scorpion Guy" at ArizonaBarkScorpion.orgPublished 2026-09-12Last reviewed 2026-09-12Editorial policy

Why doesn't spraying work?

Three reasons documented in the literature. Scorpions stilt above residues, minimizing contact.[2] Perimeter sprays tend to disperse them rather than kill them.[2] And their prey base is untouched, so new scorpions move in. UArizona Extension states flatly that scorpions cannot be managed using pesticides alone, and the FEARS study found 47.3% of stung households had recently treated with pesticides.[1][4]

What does exclusion mean in practice?

  • Seal gaps at doors, windows, utility penetrations, weep screeds, and foundation cracks to less than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm).[5][3]
  • Install door sweeps and weather-stripping; fix screens.[3]
  • Because they climb, seal rooflines, vents, and the tops of walls, not just the ground level.[2]
  • Keep beds away from walls and bedding off the floor: 90.5% of bed stings in the FEARS study involved furniture touching a wall and 44.9% involved bedding touching the floor.[4]

What habitat changes help?

  • Remove woodpiles, rock piles, debris, and leaf litter from against the foundation.[2][3]
  • Trim branches and vines away from walls and roof to remove climbing bridges.[2]
  • Fix leaks and overwatering; moisture attracts both scorpions and their prey.[3]
  • Switch porch lighting to bulbs that attract fewer insects.[3]

How do I know if it's working?

Walk the perimeter and interior baseboards after dark with a UV flashlight and count; sticky traps along baseboards add an indoor signal, though their reliability has not been formally validated.[3][2] Counts falling over a season are the measure that matters. This site is working on more projects to help out homeowners in the very near future.

Arizona bark scorpion glowing cyan-green under UV light at the base of a garage-door track, next to a small spider, Phoenix area field photograph
A bark scorpion at the base of a garage-door track, with a spider for company, under a 395 nm UV flashlight. This is the kind of ground-level metal-to-slab junction a nightly sweep should always check. Photo: Devon "The Scorpion Guy", arizonabarkscorpion.org. Field observation, Phoenix area.
Cite this pageDevon "The Scorpion Guy" at ArizonaBarkScorpion.org. "Keeping Bark Scorpions Out: What the Research Says Works." 2026-09-12. https://arizonabarkscorpion.org/prevention/

Related

Sources for this page

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. University of Arizona ACIS Community IPM. Scorpions (Public Health IPM). acis.cals.arizona.edu/community-ipm/public-health-ipm/scorpionsTier 1
  4. 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
  5. Wikipedia contributors. Arizona bark scorpion. Wikipedia (cross-reference; consult its citations for primary sources). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_bark_scorpionTier 2