Arizona bark scorpion

The Arizona bark scorpion is the small, pale, climbing scorpion found throughout the Phoenix area, and it is the one most likely to turn up in a home. It is active at night and comes indoors looking for moisture and the insects it eats. A sting is painful and can cause numbness or tingling, but for healthy adults it is rarely dangerous; the higher-risk groups are young children, older adults, and anyone with an allergy.

Prevention is mostly about sealing the home and reducing habitat. Seal cracks and gaps around doors, windows, plumbing, and other utility penetrations, add weather stripping and door sweeps, and keep block walls and the foundation in good repair. Outside, move woodpiles, rocks, and debris away from the house, keep vegetation trimmed back from walls, and reduce clutter where scorpions hide. Indoors, shake out shoes, check bedding and towels, and reduce clutter. A blacklight makes them glow at night, which makes yard checks and control much easier. Persistent problems are worth a licensed pest-control service.

If someone is stung, wash the area, apply a cool compress, and manage pain; most healthy adults recover at home. Call the free Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 or the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center at (602) 253-3334 for guidance, and seek care right away for a young child, or for severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, muscle jerking, or trouble swallowing.

Safety and coexistence

• Seal gaps around doors, windows, plumbing, and utility lines; add door sweeps
• Move woodpiles, rocks, and debris away from the house; trim vegetation off walls
• Shake out shoes and check bedding; reduce indoor and outdoor clutter
• Use a blacklight at night to spot and control them
• For a sting: wash, use a cool compress, call Poison Help 1-800-222-1222; seek care for young children or severe symptoms