Guys! Have you encountered any scorpions ever? I mean the big ones! Well, they are scary and dangerous too. Scorpions have eight legs and are easily identifiable with a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow tail, which is often carried upward in a curve from the back and ends with a stinger. They use their pincers and the sting at the back to restrain the prey and kill them. The sting at the back contains venom for scorpions to kill their prey or defend themselves. The scorpion venom does not harm humans, and death due to the scorpion sting is rare. They prey on insects and invertebrates, but some species also prey on vertebrates.

I have an interesting fact to tell you about the scorpions in the U.S. Do you know that 50 scorpion species are found in the US, and out of the 30 species alone found in Arizona are described as Arizona scorpions? Woah! That means if you really want to see the different types of scorpions, you must visit Arizona, right?

So, let me inform you that Arizona is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States, also renowned as the Grand Canyon State It is categorized into Northern Arizona and Southern Arizona, and the former consists of mountain ranges, deep canyons, pine forests, Douglas fir, and spruce tree bark. Due to the different types of atmosphere, the flora and fauna found here are very vivid, and one of them is the scorpion. Arizona scorpions may be nocturnal or diurnal.

I’ll Tell You About the Most Notable and Deadly Scorpions in Arizona.

The Arizona scorpions are mainly found in desert regions or on rocky surfaces where they can climb or stay. Many of these scorpions are even seen in the houses of people living in Phoenix and Tuscan. Actually, there are four common species of scorpions found in Arizona, which are:

1. Arizona Bark Scorpion

• Scientific name – Centruroides sculpturatus
• Family – Buthidae
• Length – 2-3 inches long

Arizona Bark Scorpions have delicate hands, fingers, and long and narrow metasoma [tail]. They are the nocturnal type of scorpion, which are active at night and can climb rough surfaces with the help of their legs. These species of Arizona Scorpions are mostly colored tan-yellow to orange in the desert region, and at higher latitudes, they seem to be striped.

In fact, they are one of the most common scorpions found in the Phoenix area. Remember that the Bark scorpion sting can be harmful to humans; therefore, they are termed as dangerous, and you must steer clear of them.

I’ll tell you some special features to identify an Arizona bark scorpion

• Bark scorpions are relatively small and have a maximum length of about 2.5 inches (6.4cm).
• Their bodies are tan, and their backs are slightly darker in color.
• Under UV light, these scorpions will glow a bright bluish color, making them easy to spot.
• They are nocturnal and are generally only seen at night.

If you ask me what attracts them the most I would say standing water or a leaking hose next to the house can invite scorpions. Common water sources are inside your house, bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Leaking pipes are the usual culprits, but even damp spaces, like basements, are the reasons. So be careful around these.

2. Giant Hairy Scorpion

• Scientific name – Hadrurus Arizonensis
• Family – Muridae
• Length – 1.93–3.23 inches

The metasoma [tail] and pedipalps [claws] of this Arizona scorpion are densely covered with setae [hairs]. It is the largest scorpion found in the United States. The Giant Hairy Scorpion diet includes small lizards, centipedes, spiders, insects, and other scorpions. In Arizona, these types of scorpions are mainly found in Saguaro forests. They dig deep burrows to find water or live under surface objects like rocks.

Now, I’ll tell you an interesting fact about them. The largest scorpion in North America, measuring up to 14 cm (5.5 in) long, is the huge desert hairy scorpion.

The Mohave and Sonoran deserts are home to enormous, hairy desert scorpions. They can be discovered under rocks and are frequently found in or close to desert washes. They spend the day in burrows that can be eight feet deep.

3. Stripe-Tail Scorpion

• Scientific name – Paravaejovis Spinigerus
• Family – Vaejovidae
• Length – 3 inches long

The Striped-tail scorpion has a strong and reflecting metasoma with kneels that have underlying pigment. In this family, female scorpions are larger than male scorpions. Their color ranges from light yellow-brown on the body to dark stripes along their spine, and they are usually found under rocks. The diet of these Arizona scorpions includes small invertebrates like crickets, roaches, and worms.

Before reaching maturity, immature scorpions molt on average six times. The average scorpion probably lives between three and eight years, although some species may live for twenty to twenty-five years.

4. Yellow Ground Scorpion

• Scientific name – Vaejovis Confusus
• Family – Vaejovidae
• Length – 2-3 inches long

These Yellow ground scorpions are similar to Arizona bark scorpions. Still, the only difference is that the first two metasoma segments of the yellow ground scorpion are wider as they are longer. These Arizona scorpions are naturally nocturnal, which means they are active at night. They are yellowish in color and granular by nature. These scorpions are mainly found in the Sonoran desert, where they burrow or dig under rocks and other objects.

Do you know that an injection site stung by a deathstalker scorpion will swell up severely and cause intense pain? Later, the venom may cause fluid retention in the lungs, convulsions, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Actually, there are different yellow scorpions. The species of scorpion known as the deathstalker (Leiurus quinquestriatus) is a member of the Buthidae family. Other common names include the Palestine yellow scorpion, Omdurman scorpion, Naqab desert scorpion, and many others.

I must Tell You About the Remedies and Treatments

We know that most scorpion stings are not dangerous for humans but can irritate them. Below are some signs of understanding the seriousness of the injury caused by scorpion stings and the first-aid measures for quick treatment of scorpion stings before they become severe symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms

• Numbness
• There is a tingling sensation near the injured area
• Immediate pain with minimal swelling
• The injured area may be sensitive to touch, heat, and cold.
• Jerky body and wild eye movements [in small children and aged people.

First-Aid Measures after Scorpion Stings

• Clean the injured area with soap and water.
• Compress the wound with ice or a cold substance.
• Place the affected limb in a comfortable position.

These first aid measures are applicable to reduce minor discomforts acquired when one gets stung by a scorpion. These measures are for young adults as their immune system is developed, and they can restrict the venom from spreading. The older generation and small children should contact the doctor immediately.

Precautions Needed to Be Taken

1. As scorpions come out more in the summer months, do not assume they will be dead if you see scorpions in your pool. Scorpions can stay submerged in the water for up to 48 hours and still come alive without getting harmed.
2. Wear shoes while walking outside the house and slippers or flip-flops inside the house. Check them before wearing them, as scorpions can make your shoes their home.
3. Scorpions have fluorescence in them. Therefore, they glow brightly under ultraviolet light. So check the house with UV light for scorpions before bedtime, especially in bedlines.
4. Ensure the door sweeps are tightly fitted, and the window screens are in good repair to fit perfectly without leaving any gaps for scorpions to enter.
5. Clear all the trash, debris, logs, and bricks saturated in the house. These are the places where scorpions like to live.
6. Fix the holes and cracks in the house, as they can lead to scorpions inside your house. Scorpions are good at climbing walls.
   

These are some precautions for avoiding scorpions in your home. Even if you have an incoming scorpion infestation, the effective way to get rid of them is by doing pest control/scorpion control in the house.

Hopefully, this article about Arizona scorpions gave you an insight into the different types of scorpions living in Arizona. The most notable are the devil scorpion, Arizona giant hairy scorpion, and stripe-tailed scorpion. As these are some of the most venomous scorpions, one must take precautions to keep away the scorpions.

Last Updated on June 16, 2024 by Pragya Chakrapani