Yes, there are scorpions in Dallas. Most homeowners never expect to find one, so the first sighting on a bathroom floor or a garage wall comes as a shock. The good news is that North Texas has mainly one species, and it is far less dangerous than the desert scorpions people picture.
The Striped Bark Scorpion
The scorpion you are most likely to see around Dallas, Richardson, and Plano is the striped bark scorpion. It is the most common scorpion in Texas. You can recognize it by a few features:
- A tan to yellowish body, usually 2 to 3 inches long including the tail
- Two dark stripes running down its back
- A long, thin tail and slender pincers
Its sting is painful, much like a bad wasp sting. For most healthy adults it is not life-threatening. However, anyone who is stung and has trouble breathing, swelling beyond the sting site, or any sign of an allergic reaction should get medical help right away. The same goes for a sting on a small child or an older adult. That is a question for a doctor, not a pest company.
Where Scorpions Hide Around Your Home
Scorpions come out at night and spend the day tucked into tight, dark spaces. Outside, check these spots:
- Woodpiles, stacked bricks, and landscape rocks
- Loose bark, mulch beds, and leaf litter
- Gaps under doors and around garage seals
Striped bark scorpions are also good climbers. As a result, they can scale brick walls and end up in attics, wall voids, and even ceilings. Indoors, they often turn up in bathrooms, closets, and laundry rooms, where it is dark and a little damp.
Why Fall Brings Scorpions Indoors
Scorpions follow their food. They hunt insects, and in late summer and fall North Texas homes see a surge of crickets, roaches, and other bugs moving toward the house. In fact, if you have been dealing with crickets in the house, you have also been feeding scorpions. Then, as nights cool off, scorpions look for sheltered spots, and your walls and attic fit the bill.
How to Keep Scorpions in Dallas Homes Out
The most reliable approach is to make your home less inviting and cut off their food supply:
- Move firewood, rocks, and debris away from the foundation
- Seal cracks, weep-hole gaps, and worn door sweeps
- Keep mulch thin and trim plants back from the walls
- Shake out shoes, towels, and bedding stored in garages
- Control the insects that attract them in the first place
Never pick up a scorpion by hand. If you find one inside, trap it under a jar or leave the room and keep kids and pets away.
Get Help From a Licensed Local Team
Seeing one scorpion usually means there are insects and entry points worth a closer look. HK Pest Control Services is licensed and insured in Texas (TPCL #13923) and serves Dallas, Richardson, and Plano. Our general pest control targets the insects scorpions feed on, and our team can point out the gaps letting them in. Have more questions? Visit our FAQ page.
Call 469-618-9991 today for a free quote and a home that is less attractive to scorpions and the bugs they hunt.
