How to Tell If a Scorpion Is Poisonous 

Scorpions are opportunistic, nocturnal hunters who hide during the day and come out at night to hunt and overcome their prey. They start by ambushing their prey, injecting them with venom, and waiting until the target succumbs to the venom. Scorpions then tear their prey into chunks and feast.

If you live in the desert or other areas with scorpions, you may wonder if all scorpions are venomous and which types of scorpions are considered dangerous.

What Do Scorpions Look Like?

Scorpions are creepy critters that are part of the arachnid family, which includes spiders, mites, ticks, and more. Scorpions have a unique shape, which starts bulky at their head and large pinchers, then becomes slender toward the end of their body with a five-segmented tail. 

Their tail contains a poison gland, otherwise known as a stinger, which injects venom into their prey or unsuspecting humans. Like spiders, scorpions have eight legs and several pairs of eyes, usually two to five pairs. However, they don’t see well and rely on their sense of touch to help them move and locate their prey.

Scorpions prefer feeding on insects, such as ants, cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. However, they will also eat lizards, spiders, centipedes, and other scorpions if given the opportunity. Scorpions can go weeks to months without feeding between meals. After feeding, it takes about four to seven days to digest their prey fully, depending on the size of the meal and environmental temperature.

These dangerous species live in North Africa, the Middle East, India, Mexico, and South America.

The venom toxicity varies greatly among scorpion species, even those in the same genus. Venom potency depends on the scorpion’s size and age, along with environmental factors. Younger scorpions tend to have more toxic venom than older adults of the same species.

In the U.S., the Arizona bark scorpion is the only species considered potentially fatal. It lives in Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and parts of southern California and Utah.

Scorpions primarily use venom to kill and digest prey. They are not aggressive toward humans and typically only sting in self-defense if accidentally threatened or disturbed. But for high-risk individuals like the elderly, children, or those with allergies, Arizona bark scorpion stings can be medically serious and require immediate care.

Let’s explore scorpion stings in more detail:

Signs and Symptoms of Scorpion Stings

A scorpion sting causes immediate pain, along with other local and systemic symptoms.

Both local and systemic symptoms vary in severity depending on factors like scorpion species, venom toxicity, and victim sensitivity. Most adult stings cause only local pain and discomfort. 

However, some people have severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock. Arizona bark scorpion stings can be particularly dangerous in children and older adults.

Whether this is using ultraviolet light to find the scorpions and eliminate them, setting up insecticide, or contacting your local pest control professional, I strongly recommend not placing your family at risk of being stung by these painful critters, especially if you live near highly venomous scorpion species.

So, Are All Scorpions Dangerous?

While all scorpions produce venom, only about 25 species worldwide have venom capable of killing humans. In the U.S., the Arizona bark scorpion is the only notably dangerous scorpion found primarily in the southwestern states.

For most healthy adult humans, a scorpion sting causes primarily localized pain, swelling, and discomfort — albeit very painfully! But, people with allergies or certain medical conditions can experience severe, systemic reactions affecting the whole body. Risk groups like small children and the elderly are also more vulnerable to serious adverse effects.

While not all scorpions are considered medically dangerous, they can still deliver an extremely painful sting. If you live where scorpions reside, work proactively with a pest management professional to exclude scorpions from entering your home. Reducing habitat and food attractants around your property also helps discourage these unfriendly nighttime hunters from taking up residence where people live, play, and sleep.

If you find scorpions on your property, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local exterminator for help dealing with these dangerous pests. Scorpions aren’t a pest you want to tackle yourself, especially if you don’t have the proper protective gear.