Scorpions in AZ (homes, luxury, new construction)

[Ponderosa]

I've been stung several times. So has everyone in the family. This is over a period of 40 years and in several different houses in different parts of town. It's like you say - stings like mad and then numbness/pins and needles for a time. It's not a big deal. My advice - don't walk around the house barefoot on summer nights. Don't get drunk and pass out on the floor.

[wase4711]

that is always good advice!

[wannabeaTexan]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I've been stung several times. So has everyone in the family. This is over a period of 40 years and in several different houses in different parts of town. It's like you say - stings like mad and then numbness/pins and needles for a time. It's not a big deal. My advice - don't walk around the house barefoot on summer nights. Don't get drunk and pass out on the floor.

How do you not see them? Do they mainly get your feet? My kids had one in their room (in TX) and he was a little guy, but they saw him before anything happened.

[acrylic]

Originally Posted by gbpakrfan

There's nothing worse than feral cars.

Those feral cars can just sneak up on you...

I've lived "all over" the east valley of the Phoenix metro. Some places have scorpions, some don't.

[Dewey59]

Yes, the closer you live to the edges of town, the more likely you are to have vermin - including scorpions. Best way to keep scorpions out of your house is to keep the doors closed, seal any openings, and perform regular spraying for insects around your house. Scorpions do not enter your house to bite you, they enter your house looking for food. So if you keep their food out, you will keep them out.

[wase4711]

you are 1000% percent right Dewey; make them look elsewhere for their buffet!

[wit-nit]

Beware of the 'Feral Cars'...

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by wannabeaTexan

How do you not see them? Do they mainly get your feet? My kids had one in their room (in TX) and he was a little guy, but they saw him before anything happened.

Scorpions are mostly nocturnal. They hide out in nooks and crannies during daylight. At night it's dark and you are getting up for some reason and walking barefoot. Zap! Other stings we have had were in bed. Something is crawling on you, you slap. Zap! I got stung in the head once when I slept on the floor (see above advice). I felt something on my ear and brushed it away. Ouch! I have never seen one in a shoe even though people say to check before putting on. My daughter got stung up north at our place near Flagstaff bringing in firewood. That was not a bark scorpion but it still hurt. My dog sniffed at one and got it in the nose. He was terrified of them after that and ran if he saw one. The cat used to hunt them but he got old, fat and lazy like me and does little but sleep and eat any more. It's scary when you see your cat poking around at a piece of furniture. You know there's one in there and eventually it will come out.

It's been a good year this year. No one stung and I don't recall even seeing any. Knock on wood. FWIW we don't use any pesticides and never have. I believe the long term health effects of organo-phosphates are worse than a scorpion sting every few years.

[grad_student200]

Originally Posted by IceBear12

So I hear there are Arizona Bark Scorpions all over the Phoenix area, and that they ramble into houses and apartments and when they sting it hurts and you can go numb and stuff for a long time. This scares the crap out of me. Any stories to share to ease my thoughts?

Pesticide control is pretty effective against scorpions. I have never seen a scorpion in any apartment complex while living in Phoenix. I have never seen a tarantula or black widow in any apartment either. And I am a long-time Arizona resident born-and-raised in the state.

But that is for Metro Phoenix. Scorpions are very common in rural Arizona. Many rural homes do not have effective pest control. So, the problem with scorpions was common in the remote part of Arizona where I grew up. The worse-case scenario is probably that of a cattle rancher working out on a remote wooden home with no electricity but just a wood stove and wooden outhouse. Those places have many scorpions, tarantulas, black widows, centipedes, etc. I know stories of very large scorpions in homes far on the outskirts of the smaller towns of rural Arizona (e.g. Globe, Safford, Wilcox, etc).

Thus, in Metro Phoenix you may never see scorpions unless you live in a home without pest control in someplace like North Scottsdale or near Gold Canyon. But if you go to an abandoned wooden shed in some rural area of Gila County, Greenlee County, or somewhere southeast of Wilcox, then you likely will get bitten by one if you spend the night. Either that or a bear or mountain lion might growl nearby.

So if you fear scorpions, just avoid homes like this in rural AZ and stay in those with pest control of Metro Phoenix.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I've been stung several times. So has everyone in the family. This is over a period of 40 years and in several different houses in different parts of town. It's like you say - stings like mad and then numbness/pins and needles for a time. It's not a big deal. My advice - don't walk around the house barefoot on summer nights. Don't get drunk and pass out on the floor.

In fairness you live in a fairly new development carved into the Estrella Foothills and I believe you've said in the past that you side to the mountain preserve or desert. Your experience is likely not typical.