The Homeowner’s Guide to
Scorpions in Texas
Scorpions in Texas: Identify and Prevent
There are over a dozen species of scorpions in Texas, hiding under rocks, in woodpiles, and even in people’s shoes. While the chances of getting seriously hurt by a scorpion sting are very low, seeing one scuttle across your floor is still alarming. Find out which scorpion species are in Texas, so if you spot one in your home, you’ll be able to identify it and know what you’re dealing with.
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1. Striped Bark Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus)
The most common scorpion in Texas, the Striped Bark scorpion, can be found throughout the state, including rural or urban settings. They’ve adapted well to living in prairie lands, woodlands, and even residential areas, where they might hide in log piles, under rocks, or in other debris. If you see a scorpion in your Texas home, you may be looking at a Striped Bark Scorpion.
Visually, the Striped Bark scorpion is brown in color with two darker stripes running along its back. They generally grow to about 2.5 – 3 inches in length. Its sting can be painful and cause swelling, but it is not deadly to humans.
2. Texas Cave Scorpion (Pseudouroctonus reddelli)
Living up to its name, the Texas Cave Scorpion is mostly found in the caves in Central Texas, especially the Edwards Plateau region. It’s darker in color, usually black or dark brown, and generally grows between 1.5 to 2 inches. In its natural cave environment, the Texas cave scorpion preys on creatures like crickets, beetles, spiders, and other small invertebrates that live in or wander into the caves. But don’t worry, they won’t sting unless provoked, and the venom is only about as painful as a bee sting.
3. Striped Scorpion / Coahuila Scorpion (Vaejovis coahuilae)
Found primarily in West Texas, this species is relatively small compared to some other scorpions. It is tan or pale yellowish in color, and looks similar to the bark scorpion but without the stripes. It is found in arid or semi-arid regions and prefers burrowing in loose soil or hiding in sheltered areas in deserts and rocky environments.
Like most scorpions in the Vaejovidae family, its venom is generally not harmful but still slightly painful.
4. Lesser Stripetail Scorpion (Paravaejovis waeringi)
Smaller than other scorpions in Texas, the Paravaejovis waeringi is also known as the Dune Devil scorpion or the Lesser Stripetail scorpion. It is found in West Texas among the rocks, leaf litter, or sandy soil of the desert regions, where it feeds on small insects and other arthropods. This scorpion is generally nocturnal and avoids humans, making sightings less frequent. Growing to about 1.5 to 2 inches in length, this light brown Texas scorpion has a mildly painful sting but is not harmful to humans.
5. Giant Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis)
Although not as commonly spotted as other types of scorpions in Texas, the Giant Hairy scorpion is found in western parts of Texas near the desert regions. It’s the largest scorpion species in North America, reaching up to 6 inches long. Their bodies are dark, while their lighter yellowish-tan appendages contrast with the rest of their appearance. Tiny hairs on their bodies help them detect vibrations in the sand. This scorpion eats a varied diet of prey, such as insects and lizards. Like most other scorpions in Texas, its venom is not potent enough to cause serious health problems, although it may be somewhat painful to be stung by this large Texas scorpion.
6. Stripetail Scorpion (Paravaejovis spinigerus)
Known as the stripe-tailed scorpion or devil scorpion, this species is medium-sized, growing to about 3 inches in length. It is brownish-red to tan in color and prefers to stick to sandy environments or loose soil, where it can burrow and hide. The Striped-tail scorpion is nocturnal and avoids contact with humans. This one is a bit rare in Texas and tends to live farther west and south in Arizona and Mexico.
Scorpion in your Texas home, but not sure of the name?
We know that not everyone is an expert on arthropods. If you see a scorpion in your Texas house and don’t know its name, look at this cheat sheet:
Black Scorpions in Texas
The darkest-colored scorpions in Texas are the Giant Hairy scorpion, which is relatively large at 5-6 inches long, and the Striped Bark Scorpion, which is smaller and has a lighter color closer to brown. Neither of these are deadly.
Brown Scorpions in Texas
If you see a brown scorpion around your home or out in nature, it is most likely a Striped Bark Scorpion or, if you are in Western Texas, perhaps a Vaejovis coahuilae / Striped scorpion. Neither of these are deadly.
Small Scorpions in Texas
Scorpion prevention usually starts with removing debris and potential hiding places from your yard or the immediate vicinity of your house. They tend to hide out and avoid humans, but if you are disrupting their habitat, you may get a surprise. Be very careful when camping, moving log piles or rock piles, and hiking or walking dogs in natural settings in Texas.
If you do see a scorpion in your Texas home, reach out to Hawx Pest Control and ask about our Scorpion Control Services. With six branches throughout Texas, our experts can be dispatched to help you address your scorpion problem and other common issues common to our climate.
Find the Texas branch location nearest you or contact Hawx immediately.
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