Bark scorpions mate in a slow courtship dance, carry their young for several months and give birth to live babies, usually a dozen or more at a time. The newborns are pale, about the size of a grain of rice, and ride on their mother's back for roughly their first week. For Mesa homeowners, that means one scorpion in the garage can turn into a family if the hiding places and the food stay put. If you are seeing small scorpions, call us at (480) 422-8388.
We get this question most often from families in 85207, 85209 and 85212 who found a tiny scorpion and wondered where it came from. This guide walks through how scorpions find a mate, how the babies are born, how long they take to grow up, and what all of it means for scorpion control around a Mesa home. Our scorpion control in Mesa service is built around breaking that cycle.
How Do Scorpions Breed?
Scorpions breed through a courtship dance. The male grabs the female's pincers and walks her back and forth until he finds a flat spot. He then deposits a packet of sperm on the ground and guides her over it. Fertilization happens inside the female, not in an egg that she lays.
The dance can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Scorpion experts call it the promenade à deux. It tends to happen at night during the warm months, when scorpions are most active, which is why you may never see it even if it happens a few feet from your patio.
- Courtship. The pair locks pincers and the male leads the female in a slow back-and-forth walk.
- Sperm transfer. The male leaves a sperm packet on the ground and positions the female over it.
- Separation. Afterward the pair parts. Males often leave quickly, because a female may treat a male as food.
Do Scorpions Lay Eggs or Give Birth to Live Young?
Scorpions give birth to live young. The Arizona bark scorpion carries its developing embryos inside the body and delivers fully formed babies, called scorplings. It does not lay eggs in a nest the way spiders and insects do. That is one reason there is no egg sac for you to find and remove.
Pregnancy takes several months, and the exact length depends on temperature and species. A litter of bark scorpions is commonly in the range of a dozen to a few dozen babies. Giant hairy scorpions, the larger Arizona species, have smaller families and almost never live inside homes.
What Happens to Baby Scorpions After They Are Born?
Newborns climb onto their mother's back and stay there while their first shell hardens. They are soft and nearly white, and they do not feed during this stage. After their first molt, which usually comes within about one to two weeks, they drop off and begin hunting on their own.
From there, young scorpions shed their outer shell several more times as they grow. Each molt leaves them softer and more vulnerable for a day or so, so they hide in cracks and tight spaces. The whole trip to adulthood commonly takes a year or longer, and bark scorpions can live for several years once they are grown.
| Life stage | What it looks like | Where you might find it in Mesa |
|---|---|---|
| Mating | Two adults locked pincer to pincer, walking back and forth | Block walls, rock beds, patio edges after dark |
| Pregnant female | Slightly bulkier abdomen, often hidden for months | Wall voids, under landscape rock, stacked pavers |
| Newborn on mother's back | A cluster of pale, rice-sized babies riding on her | Garages, sheds, behind cabinets or stored boxes |
| Juvenile | Small, very pale tan or yellow, quick to run | Bathtubs, sinks, baseboards, door thresholds |
| Adult bark scorpion | Two to three inches, slim, long thin tail | Stucco, block walls, ceilings, light fixtures |
When Are Baby Scorpions Most Common in Mesa?
Baby scorpions show up most often during the warm months, roughly spring through early fall, when mating and birth both pick up. That lines up with the summer monsoon, when humidity rises, insects increase and scorpions move around more. You can still find them in cooler months, because scorpions slow down rather than disappear.
In Mesa we see the most calls from neighborhoods with block walls and decorative rock, such as around Dobson Ranch, Las Sendas, Superstition Springs and the newer homes in Eastmark. A single sighting of a small, pale scorpion is worth taking seriously, since it tells you adults are probably nearby.
Why Do Scorpions Keep Coming Back to the Same Yard?
Scorpions return to places that give them food, shade and a safe spot to raise young. Bark scorpions also tolerate each other better than most species, so they gather in groups in the same cracks and voids. A good spot gets reused year after year.
- Food. Crickets, roaches and other small insects draw them. Our guide on what scorpions eat in Mesa goes through what pulls them in.
- Shelter. Gaps in block walls, loose stucco, stacked pots and landscape rock all work as nurseries.
- Moisture. Irrigation lines, pet bowls and drip emitters bring prey and cool the ground.
- Entry points. Worn door sweeps, garage seals and pipe penetrations let juveniles slip inside.
How Can You Tell If Scorpions Are Breeding on Your Property?
The clearest sign is seeing juveniles, or an adult carrying babies. Other signs are several sightings in the same spot over a few weeks, or scorpions of different sizes in one area. If you see any of them, there is probably a population nearby, not a lone wanderer.
A UV flashlight is the easiest tool to check. Scorpions glow blue-green under ultraviolet light, including the small ones. After dark, scan block walls, the base of the house, rock beds and the garage, and write down where you see a glow. Our guide to whether scorpions are arachnids explains why they fluoresce.
How Do You Stop Scorpions From Multiplying Around Your Mesa Home?
Take away the shelter and the food, and close the gaps they use to get indoors. This does not remove every scorpion, but it makes your property a poor place to raise young. We recommend doing it alongside a professional treatment.
- Clear out the hiding places. Move wood, pavers, pots and clutter away from the foundation and off the garage floor.
- Seal the house. Replace door sweeps, caulk gaps around pipes and cables, and check weatherstripping.
- Trim plants. Cut back branches that touch the roof or walls, since bark scorpions climb.
- Cut the food supply. Managing crickets and roaches leaves them less to hunt.
- Check at night with UV. Repeat every few weeks in warm months to see if the numbers are dropping.
Our Mesa scorpion control guide covers what a full treatment visit looks like.
What Do We Do About Scorpions Around Mesa Homes?
We inspect first, then treat the perimeter, entry points and the harborage areas where scorpions rest and raise young. Bucksworth Home Services has served Arizona homeowners since 2013, and our technicians work the block walls, rock beds and wall lines where juveniles hide. We then come back to those same spots to check on results.
We also look at the insects that feed them, because that is what keeps new generations coming. See everything we offer on our pest control in Mesa page, and browse the Mesa home services page for the rest.
Do We Handle Scorpions Near Mesa Too?
Yes. Our crews also serve scorpion control in Gilbert, scorpion control in Queen Creek, Chandler, Tempe and Apache Junction. To see how scorpion season plays out next door, read about Gilbert during bark scorpion season or San Tan Valley scorpion problems.
If you are worried about a sting, our guide to what a bark scorpion sting looks like covers the symptoms and first steps. Finding scorpions in your home? Request service online or call (480) 422-8388 and a technician will walk your yard and block walls with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do scorpions mate?
A male and female lock pincers and walk back and forth in a courtship dance. The male leaves a sperm packet on the ground and guides the female over it. The dance can last from minutes to hours.
Do scorpions lay eggs?
No. Scorpions give birth to live young. The babies develop inside the mother and are born fully formed.
How many babies does a bark scorpion have at once?
A litter is commonly a dozen to a few dozen. The number varies with the size and health of the mother.
How long do baby scorpions stay on their mother's back?
Usually about one to two weeks, until their first molt. After that they leave and hunt on their own.
Are baby scorpions more dangerous than adults?
Baby bark scorpions are still venomous, and they are harder to spot. Treat any scorpion sting seriously and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, especially for children and older adults.
Can you get rid of scorpions around my Mesa home?
Yes. Call us at (480) 422-8388 or request service online and we will schedule an inspection.