Scorpions
Scorpions are the most common pest that we eliminate. They are a predatory arachnid that has pinchers in the front and a curled tail with a stinger in the back. Their sizes can range from 9mm (.3 in) to 23mm or 9 inches. They hunt by waiting until their prey comes within striking distance of their tail. They grab their lunch with their pinchers and use their stinger to inject venom into their soon-to-be meal. Unfortunately, they will sting a human if it's close enough. Besides severe pain in the general area of a sting, a scorpion sting also tends to cause intense tingling, numbness, blurry vision, nausea, and muscle twitching that can last from one to three days. Although there are 30 or so species of scorpions found here in Arizona, the three most common are the Bark, the Striped Tail (or Devil Scorpion), and the Giant (or Desert Hairy Scorpion.)
Arizona Bark Scorpion
With being Arizona's most common scorpion, it's fairly easy to identify an Arizona Bark Scorpion. They are tan with yellow little lines running horizontal along their back and can range from 2.5 to 3.1 inches long. Meaning that they are VERY easy to step on which you do NOT want to do. They will not hesitate to give you a not-so-nice little poke with their venomous stinger. They are considered to be fatal to infants, sick, and elderly human. Another way to identify a bark scorpion is by its tail's position. They lay their tails parallel to the surface that they're laying waiting for prey. Arizona Bark Scorpions are unique because they can climb just about any surface that's slightly rough. Bark Scorpions are often found "hanging out" upside down on ceilings and on walls. They prefer cooler and moist areas as opposed to other scorpions who prefer the dryness of the desert.
Striped Tail Scorpion
The next most common scorpion found in Arizona is the Striped Tail Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus) or also known as the Devil Scorpion. It has similar colorations to the Arizona Bark Scorpion, but also has darker stripes running vertical along it's back in conjunction with the yellow lines running vertical. Though a sting from the Striped Tail Scorpion is not typically considered deadly, it can cause extreme pain, numbness, tingling, increased heart rate and muscle twitching. Striped Tail Scorpions are often found crawling along the ground under rocks and debris so be careful the next time you're moving stuff around in your backyard.
Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion
The Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) also know as Giant Hairy Scorpion and Arizona Desert Hairy Scorpion is Arizona's least common scorpion. The Giant Hairy Scorpion is the only scorpion of the Hadrurus family that can be found in the Sonoran and Mojave desert. Although it is a burrowing scorpion, it can also be found under rocks and debris in the desert and yard. Even though people compare the sting of a Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion to that of a honeybee, it can still be fatal if an allergic reaction occurs.