Most scorpions that end up inside Tucson homes spend their days in the yard first. They need shelter from the heat, insects to eat and a route to the house, and a typical desert landscape offers all of that within a few feet of the walls. Technicians at Swift Pest usually start a scorpion visit outside for that reason. The eight changes below make a yard harder for scorpions to live in, and five local pest control companies that treat scorpions follow them.
How do you keep scorpions out of your yard?
1. Where should firewood and lumber be stored?
Away from the house and off the ground. University of California pest management guidance lists woodpiles and loose boards among the scorpion’s favorite daytime hiding spots. Stack firewood at least several feet from exterior walls on a rack, and bring in only what you’ll burn that day.
2. Should you remove rocks and debris near the foundation?
Yes. Loose rocks, stacked pavers, old landscape timbers and piles of yard waste create the dark, tight spaces scorpions shelter in during the day. Clear them away from the base of the house, where a scorpion is one short climb from a weep hole or door gap.
3. Do block walls attract scorpions?
They do. A University of Arizona Cooperative Extension publication reports that in one study, 95 percent of bark scorpions chose hollow block walls over other refuges. Cap the tops of block fences and repair cracked mortar so the hollow cores aren’t open.
4. Why should you trim trees and palms?
Branches touching the roof or walls give scorpions an easy way onto and into the house, since bark scorpions climb well. Dead palm fronds and loose tree bark also provide shelter. Trim branches back from the roofline and remove dead fronds every year.
5. Does extra water draw scorpions in?
It draws in the insects scorpions eat. Leaky drip emitters, puddling sprinklers and overwatered beds keep crickets and cockroaches active around the house. Check the irrigation system each spring, and water early in the morning so the soil dries by evening.
6. Do outdoor lights make scorpion problems worse?
They can. Bright white porch and patio lights pull in moths, beetles and other night-flying insects, and scorpions follow the food. Switching to yellow or warm-toned bulbs and putting lights on motion sensors cuts down on the evening insect crowd near your doors.
7. What’s the best ground cover next to the house?
A clear band of bare soil or gravel about a foot wide along the foundation works better than mulch or dense plants. Decorative bark, which the UC guidance names as scorpion habitat, holds moisture and hides scorpions right against the walls. Keep weeds and ground cover out of that strip too.
8. How can you tell if your yard changes are working?
Check with a blacklight. Scorpions glow under ultraviolet light, so a walk around the yard after dark shows whether fewer are active. Look along block walls, the base of stucco and around planters. If you are still finding several in one evening, the population likely needs professional treatment as well.
Which Tucson pest control companies help with scorpions in the yard?
These Tucson-area companies offer scorpion and general pest control:
- Swift Pest Solutions
- Moxie Pest Control
- Arrow Exterminators
- University Termite & Pest Control
- Bill’s Home Service Company
1. Swift Pest Solutions
Swift Pest Solutions is a family-run Tucson company owned by Jeff Miller, Pest Control Technician, and licensed in Arizona under license number 9815. It serves Tucson, Marana, Vail and Catalina. Its scorpion service focuses on the yard and exterior, using perimeter treatments, sealing of entry points and nighttime inspections to find where scorpions shelter. The company also offers weed control and treats the crickets and other insects scorpions feed on. If pests come back between scheduled visits, Swift returns at no extra cost.
2. Moxie Pest Control
Moxie Pest Control is a pest control company with an office on North Oracle Road in Tucson.
3. Arrow Exterminators
Arrow Exterminators is a pest control company with an office on the east side of Tucson.
4. University Termite & Pest Control
University Termite & Pest Control is a termite and pest control company on the south side of Tucson.
5. Bill’s Home Service Company
Bill’s Home Service Company is a termite and pest control company with offices in northwest Tucson and Green Valley.
What matters most when scorpion-proofing a Tucson yard?
Scorpions stay where they find shelter, food and a way in. Moving woodpiles, clearing debris from the foundation, capping block walls and cutting back the insects that feed them all shrink that list. None of these changes takes more than a weekend, and together they make a real difference in how many scorpions reach the house. If a blacklight check still turns up several on your walls after the cleanup, schedule a professional scorpion inspection before warm weather brings them closer to your doors.
