Scorpions eat other arthropods: crickets, cockroaches, spiders, beetles, moths and even other scorpions. The Arizona bark scorpion we see across Mesa hunts at night, ambushes whatever walks past, and can go for months between meals. That means a scorpion in your house is usually following a food supply, so the real fix is the bugs it came for. Call us at (480) 422-8388 or see our scorpion control in Mesa page.
What Do Scorpions Eat in the Arizona Desert?
Bark scorpions eat live insects and other small arthropods. They are ambush hunters: they sit still near a crack, a wall base or a plant pot, grab prey with their pincers, and use the stinger on anything that struggles. They do not chew food. They break it down and drink the liquid.
Here in Mesa the menu depends on what your yard and house already support. Our technicians find scorpions hunting around the same places every insect gathers: porch lights, irrigation boxes, wood piles, stucco cracks and the base of block walls.
What is on the typical bark scorpion menu?
- Crickets. The most common prey we see tied to scorpion activity in Mesa yards.
- Cockroaches. Palmetto bugs outside and German roaches inside both draw hunters.
- Spiders. Small house spiders and their egg sacs are fair game.
- Beetles, ants and moths. Anything soft enough and small enough.
- Other scorpions. Scorpions are cannibals, especially young ones near larger ones.
| Prey | Where it hides in a Mesa home | What it tells us about the scorpion |
|---|---|---|
| Crickets | Landscape rock, planters, garage corners | Scorpions are working the yard edge |
| Roaches | Water heater closets, drains, under sinks | Hunting has moved indoors |
| Spiders | Eaves, window frames, block wall seams | Heavy prey source near entry points |
| Beetles and moths | Porch lights, door thresholds | Scorpions wait just outside the light |
| Other scorpions | Shared daytime shelter in walls | A nest or aggregation is close |
Do Scorpions Need Water, and How Long Can They Go Without Food?
Scorpions can survive months without eating, and they get most of their moisture from prey. That is why a dry-looking Mesa home can still have them: a quiet roach or cricket population gives them enough food and water to stay put for a long time.
It also explains why a single spray rarely solves the problem. A scorpion that already got a meal this month is not coming out to chase bait. What we can control is how many meals the property offers in the first place, and how easy it is to walk in.
Why Are Scorpions Showing Up Inside My Mesa Home?
Scorpions come inside because food, shelter and shade are inside. Bark scorpions are excellent climbers, so a block wall, a stucco seam or a gap under a garage door gives them a way in. When they find roaches or spiders in the house, they stay.
In Mesa we see it in a few patterns. Older neighborhoods near downtown and Lehi have mature landscaping and block walls running between yards. Newer builds in Eastmark often have fresh landscape rock and drainage swales right against the foundation. Homes near Usery Mountain, Las Sendas and Red Mountain sit next to undisturbed desert, so scorpions arrive from the edge. If you want the full picture of how we handle it, read our guide to scorpion control for Mesa homes.
What attracts scorpions to a house?
- Prey insects, especially crickets and roaches.
- Cool, dark daytime shelter such as rock piles, wood stacks and stored boxes.
- Moisture from drip lines, pet bowls and leaky hose bibs.
- Entry paths: door sweeps, weep holes, plumbing penetrations and the tops of block walls.
- Outdoor lighting that pulls insects toward the walls at night.
How Does Cutting the Food Supply Keep Scorpions Away?
Fewer prey insects means fewer reasons to stay. Scorpions move on from properties where hunting is poor, and the ones already inside become easier to find. That is why our approach starts with the insects scorpions eat, not just the scorpion itself.
When we treat a Mesa home we focus on the places the food chain meets the structure:
- A blacklight walk, since scorpions glow under UV, to see where they shelter and travel.
- Treating the foundation perimeter, block wall bases and the eaves where spiders and crickets gather.
- Targeting roach and cricket activity so there is less prey near the house.
- Sealing or flagging entry points so you can close them for good.
The service we offer is on our scorpion control in Mesa page, and roach pressure inside the home is covered under roach elimination in Mesa. If your problem is mostly roaches, our post on how to kill German cockroaches in Mesa walks through it.
What Can You Do Yourself to Reduce Scorpion Food?
You can cut the food supply by sealing gaps, reducing hiding spots and managing outdoor lights and moisture. These steps help, and they work best alongside professional treatment.
Quick yard and house checklist
- Move wood piles, bricks and pavers away from the house.
- Trim plants that touch the walls or roof.
- Replace white porch bulbs with yellow bulbs, which draw fewer insects.
- Fix drip lines and hose bibs that keep the soil wet against the foundation.
- Add door sweeps and caulk gaps around pipes and windows.
- Clear stored cardboard from garages and closets.
| DIY step | Cuts which food source | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow porch bulbs | Moths, beetles, crickets | Does not stop the scorpions already nearby |
| Clearing wood and rock piles | Crickets, spiders, shelter | Block walls still hold insects |
| Door sweeps and caulk | Entry for prey and scorpions | Won't treat existing nests |
| Fixing leaks | Moisture and roaches | Needs a plumber for hidden leaks |
When Is Scorpion Food Most Active in Mesa?
Prey insects follow the weather, so scorpion hunting follows it too. Activity picks up as nights warm in spring, peaks through the hot months and the monsoon, and slows when Mesa nights cool. The table shows how we think about it, using general desert patterns rather than exact dates.
| Season in Mesa | Prey activity | What we focus on |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Slow, insects shelter in walls and garages | Sealing entry points, indoor roach checks |
| Spring | Crickets and spiders ramp up as nights warm | Perimeter and eave treatment before the surge |
| Summer and monsoon | Highest insect numbers, humidity draws roaches | Block wall bases, drains, porch lights |
| Fall | Prey drifts toward warm structures | Re-checking gaps, door sweeps, stored items |
If you live near the desert edge in Las Sendas, Red Mountain or Usery Mountain, expect scorpions to arrive from open ground. If you live in an infill neighborhood such as Dobson Ranch or Lehi, the scorpions more often travel along block walls and landscape rock between yards. Either way, the question to ask is the same: what are they finding to eat on my property?
Are Scorpions in Mesa Dangerous?
The bark scorpion is Arizona's medically significant scorpion. A sting is painful, and for small children, older adults and anyone with a strong reaction it can need medical care. If someone is stung, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 and seek care for a child or severe symptoms. Their guidance beats anything we can give you.
Knowing what scorpions eat also tells you where they are likely to be: near roaches, spiders and crickets. That is one more reason to look at shoes, laundry piles and bedding edges in rooms where you have seen insects.
What Other Pests Come With Scorpions Around Mesa?
Because scorpions follow their prey, the pests they eat are a good early warning. Spiders, roaches and crickets are the usual ones, and we cover spiders under spider prevention in Mesa. On visits, our technicians often find webs along the eaves and scorpion shelter at the wall base below them, which is the same food chain in two places.
See what our crew does on a visit on our Bucksworth YouTube channel. For the wider Mesa picture, start at our pest control in Mesa page or the Mesa service area page.
Where Else Do We Handle Scorpions Near Mesa?
We are locally owned and have served Arizona since 2013 from our Apache Junction base, so scorpion work across the East Valley is routine for us. The same food-chain approach applies next door:
- Scorpion control in Gilbert
- Scorpion control in Chandler and keeping scorpions out of Chandler homes
- Apache Junction scorpion control, plus Tempe and Queen Creek homes within the same East Valley service area
Ready to cut off what the scorpions are eating? Request service or call (480) 422-8388.
Frequently Asked Questions About What Scorpions Eat
What do scorpions eat in a house?
Mostly roaches, spiders, crickets and other small insects. If you see scorpions indoors, check for those pests too.
Do scorpions eat other scorpions?
Yes. Scorpions are cannibalistic, and larger ones will eat smaller ones, especially young scorpions sharing a shelter.
How long can a scorpion live without food?
Bark scorpions can go for months without eating, which is why a house with very few insects can still have them.
Do scorpions eat roaches?
Yes, roaches are a favorite prey. A roach problem inside the home can keep scorpions hunting there.
Will getting rid of insects get rid of scorpions?
It helps a lot, but entry points and shelter matter too. We treat both: the prey and the structure. Call (480) 422-8388 and we will look at your Mesa home.
Do scorpions drink water?
They get most moisture from prey, but they will use water from leaks and irrigation near the foundation.