Scorpion control for Henderson and Las Vegas homes

Scorpions in the Las Vegas valley

The Arizona bark scorpion is the species Las Vegas homeowners deal with most. It is small, tan, and slender, usually two to three inches long with thin pincers and a slim tail. Unlike the larger desert hairy scorpion, which mostly stays on the ground, the bark scorpion climbs. It walks up stucco, block walls, and tree bark, which is how it ends up on ceilings and in bathtubs.

Bark scorpions rest during the day in tight, dark spaces: the voids inside block walls, under loose bark and palm skirts, beneath rocks and pavers, inside weep screed gaps, and behind anything stacked against the house. They hunt at night and need very little room to get inside. A gap the thickness of a credit card around a door, window, or pipe is enough.

The sting causes a sharp, burning pain that can be followed by numbness or tingling. Most healthy adults recover at home, but young children, older adults, and anyone with a severe reaction should get medical attention. Poison Control is available around the clock at 1-800-222-1222.

Scorpions are most active from spring through early fall, when nights are warm. They do not disappear in winter; they slow down and stay hidden, which is why a quiet winter is often followed by a busy spring.

Signs you have scorpions

• A scorpion in the bathtub, sink, or shower. They fall in from the wall or ceiling and cannot climb smooth porcelain back out.
• Scorpions in the garage, near the water heater, or around pool equipment and stacked storage.
• Neighbors with scorpions. Bark scorpions move easily along shared block walls.
• A yard that borders open desert, a wash, or a recent construction site, all of which push them toward homes.
• Scorpions glowing blue-green under a UV flashlight after dark. A ten-minute walk of the block walls and foundation shows you how many are really there.

What our scorpion service does

Scorpion control is a harborage problem. Treating only the spot where you saw one does little, because the population is living in the walls and landscaping around the house. Our service follows the pest.

1. Inspect. We walk the whole property: exterior, block walls, landscaping, garage, and every place pests get in.
2. Plan. You get a plain explanation of what we found and exactly what we recommend before any work starts.
3. Treat. Treatment targets where the pests live and travel, not a blanket spray of every surface.
4. Follow up. Follow-up is scheduled for the pest and the property, with a short list of what to watch for between visits.

What that means for scorpions

• Inspection of block walls, weep screeds, expansion joints, landscaping, palm trees, and the garage, with attention to where the yard meets open ground.
• Targeted treatment of the harborage areas and the home's perimeter, where scorpions travel at night.
• A written list of the gaps that let them in: door sweeps, weep holes, unscreened vents, and gaps around pipes and cables.
• Because scorpions feed on other insects, controlling crickets, roaches, and other prey around the house is part of keeping scorpion numbers down.

What you can do between visits

• Install tight door sweeps and weatherstripping on exterior and garage doors.
• Seal gaps around pipes, cables, and vents where they enter the house.
• Keep firewood, pavers, pots, and storage off the ground and away from the walls.
• Trim shrubs and palms so nothing touches the house, and remove dead palm fronds.
• Shake out shoes, towels, and pool floats that have been outside.
• Walk the yard with a UV flashlight a few nights a month to track whether numbers are falling.