Scorpion Pest Control in Arizona: Does It Work & What It Costs

Researched by Elia · Sources and prices checked 2026-09-23

Does pest control get rid of scorpions?

It reduces them; it rarely eliminates them. Here is what the evidence says.

• University of Arizona: “Scorpions are extremely difficult to eradicate.” [1] An earlier University of Arizona publication (2011) put it more bluntly: they are “almost impossible to manage with insecticides alone.” [2]
• Why: the Arizona bark scorpion is “a proficient climber” that crosses floors, walls and ceilings [1], and in a University of Arizona radio-tracking study at a school site (21 days in August 2013), 95% of the scorpions’ use of structures as refuges was inside hollow block walls. [3] The University of Arizona advises stuccoing and capping hollow-block walls to make them less inviting. [1]
• Professional spraying can cut numbers — how much depends on the product: in a field trial in a Mexican village on a related species, professionally applied pyrethroid treatments reduced scorpion prevalence by 64–77% around houses one month after spraying, and indoors by 83%, 46% and 15% depending on the product (deltamethrin ranked lowest). After three spray rounds over three years, prevalence fell by about 60% to 90%, and reported sting cases fell by 17%. [4] That was a different species in different housing, so treat it as a range, not a promise.
• Researchers are cautious: in the background to a 2023 study on a botanical repellent, researchers from New Mexico State University and the USDA write that chemical insecticides “offer poor prospects for control” of pests including the Arizona bark scorpion, because of their lack of efficacy and their effects on people and the environment. [5]

What to ask a pest control company

• Are scorpions included in the plan? Not always — among the published Arizona plans below, one explicitly excludes them and others include a “scorpion barrier” or “scorpion perimeter” treatment.
• Do you pest-proof, or only spray? The University of Arizona notes that pest management companies often offer pest-proofing services, and ranks pest-proofing as the most effective option. [1]
• Do you do nighttime blacklight work? The University of Arizona’s tips for professionals: “Daytime spraying is largely ineffective. The most effective scorpion management method is nighttime blacklight collecting.” [2]
• What is the guarantee, and is there a contract? Terms differ from one company to the next — see the plan details on our Arizona pest control prices page.

What you can do yourself

• Seal the gaps they use: weather-strip doors and windows for a snug fit and make door sweeps tight-fitting. [1] Details on weep holes and wall penetrations are on our bark scorpion page.
• Remove hiding places: don’t let wood, rocks, clutter or debris build up against the home. [1]
• Reduce their food: eliminating crickets and other insects “can help, but will not eliminate scorpions from around the home.” [1]
• Hunt with a UV light: scorpions glow under ultraviolet light; inspect inside before bedtime and do UV collections several times during summer, between 8 and 11 pm, wearing boots and using long tongs; the University of Arizona suggests releasing collected scorpions into the desert rather than killing them. [1] Never look directly at an ultraviolet light — it can damage your eyes. [2]
• Sticky traps are for monitoring: Texas A&M lists scorpions among the pests sticky traps readily catch, and says their best use is to detect pests and monitor changes in their numbers. [8]

Store-bought scorpion killers: what’s inside

• Harris Home Pest Control Scorpion Killer is registered under EPA Reg. No. 3-11: 0.03% deltamethrin, a pyrethroid. [6]
• TERRO Scorpion Killer is registered under EPA Reg. No. 149-11: 0.2% permethrin, 0.1% pyrethrins and 0.5% piperonyl butoxide. [7] Formulas can change between product versions — read the EPA number on the label you buy.
• We found no independent study of how well either product works on scorpions.
• Diatomaceous earth kills insects by absorbing the oils and fats from their outer layer and stays effective only while dry and undisturbed [9]; we found no study on scorpions.
• Cedarwood oil is on the federal list of active ingredients allowed in “minimum-risk” pesticides [11], and the EPA says it generally does not review products that claim to meet the minimum-risk criteria, nor provide a label review of them. [10] We found no study of cedar oil’s effect on scorpions.
• Ultrasonic repellers — we found no evidence they work on scorpions, and we don’t recommend them.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (Gouge, Li, Bibbs, Nair), AZ1768, “Scorpions of the Desert Southwest United States” (May 2018) — acis.cals.arizona.edu
2. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (Gouge, Olson), AZ1223, “Scorpions” (revised June 2011) — repository.arizona.edu
3. Bibbs, Bengston & Gouge — Environmental Entomology 43(5):1345-53, “Exploration of refuge preference in the Arizona bark scorpion” (2014) — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4. Ramsey et al. — Medical and Veterinary Entomology 16(4):356-63, “Domestic scorpion control with pyrethroid insecticides in Mexico” (2002) — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5. Agnew et al. — Pest Management Science 79(10):3511-3519, “Coconut fatty acids exhibit strong repellency and week-long efficacy against several urban pest arthropods of the southwestern United States” (2023) — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6. U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “EPA Reg. No. 3-11 (includes the brand “Harris Home Pest Control Scorpion Killer”)” — ordspub.epa.gov
7. U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “EPA Reg. No. 149-11 (includes the brand “TERRO Scorpion Killer”)” — ordspub.epa.gov
8. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, “What is a sticky trap?” (Dec. 2011, updated 2015) — citybugs.tamu.edu
9. National Pesticide Information Center, “Diatomaceous Earth General Fact Sheet” (2013) — npic.orst.edu
10. U.S. EPA, “Minimum Risk Pesticide Definition and Product Confirmation” (updated Apr. 8, 2026) — epa.gov
11. Code of Federal Regulations (via Cornell LII), “40 CFR 152.25 — Exemptions for pesticides of a character not requiring FIFRA regulation” — law.cornell.edu

PestPinpoint is not a pest control company or a medical provider, and no company pays to appear in these tables. In an emergency, call 911.