Scorpions in Valley homes
Scorpions show up most on hillside and canyon adjacent lots across the Valley and Conejo Valley, less often on flat valley floor properties. The species found here causes a painful sting but is far less dangerous than the Arizona bark scorpion, which isn't established in this area. They're most active at night and glow under UV light.
ScorpionsHow to tell it's this one
- Local scorpions are typically an inch to two inches, tan to dark brown, and most active at night
- They glow bright blue green under a UV blacklight, which makes night inspections far more reliable than a daytime look
- Found most often on hillside and canyon adjacent lots rather than flat valley floor properties
- Show up in shoes, folded towels or bedding that's sat undisturbed
- A sting that causes sharp, localized pain and swelling, medically the local species is far less dangerous than the Arizona bark scorpion, which is not established in this area
Where it hides in Valley homes
- Under rocks and woodpiles
- Inside stucco cracks and wall voids
- Shoes and clothing left on the floor
- Hillside landscaping and rock gardens
When it shows up
From our own route records, month by month.
What to do right now
- 1Shake out shoes and clothing before putting them on, especially anything left on the floor overnight
- 2Seal gaps around doors, windows and utility penetrations
- 3Clear woodpiles and rock piles away from the house
- 4Use a UV blacklight after dark to check patios and garages, they glow and are easy to spot
How Facility handles scorpions
We treat the exterior perimeter to label and seal the gaps around doors, windows and utility lines that scorpions use to get inside, since exclusion matters as much as treatment for this pest. For hillside properties with ongoing activity we'll walk the yard after dark with a UV blacklight, scorpions glow clearly under it, to find where they're actually coming from rather than guessing.
Scorpions questions
Are scorpions in Los Angeles dangerous?
The scorpion species found in this region causes a sting that's sharp and painful with localized swelling, similar to a bad bee sting for most healthy adults, but it's not considered medically dangerous the way the Arizona bark scorpion is. Children, older adults or anyone with a reaction should still be seen by a doctor.
Why do scorpions glow under a blacklight?
Scorpions have a compound in their exoskeleton that reacts to ultraviolet light and glows a bright blue green in the dark, which makes a UV blacklight one of the most reliable ways to actually spot them at night. A daytime look around the same patio or garage often misses them entirely.
Do I have Arizona bark scorpions in my yard?
Almost certainly not, the Arizona bark scorpion isn't established in this area. The scorpions found on Valley and Conejo Valley hillside lots are a less dangerous local species, though the sting still hurts and should be treated with care, especially for kids or anyone with a sensitivity.
Why am I seeing more scorpions on my hillside property?
Hillside and canyon adjacent lots have more of what scorpions want, rock piles, natural debris and undisturbed landscaping close to the house, compared to flatter valley floor properties. They're most active on warm nights, so sightings often increase through summer as temperatures stay high after dark.
How do scorpions get inside the house?
Scorpions squeeze through surprisingly small gaps around doors, windows, utility penetrations and stucco cracks, since their flattened body lets them fit through openings that look far too small. Sealing those common entry points does as much to keep them out as any treatment on its own.
Ready when you are.
Call, text, or send a quote request and Katie or Sam calls you back during office hours. No visit fee, no contract.
