Scorpions rocking St. George this monsoon season; residents report increased encounters

ST. GEORGE — Scorpions are rocking St. George like a hurricane. As monsoon season continues to usher heavy rains into the region, the desert-dwelling arthropods wander in the cool, humid nights to hunt for prey, leading residents to report increased sightings.

A desert hairy scorpion, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 24, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News

St. George News issued a photo call on the Facebook group St. George Word of Mouth, where Southern Utahns shared their encounters. One commenter, Christa Dietzel said she found a large scorpion while outside stargazing.

“It was about 4 inches long and I heard its scattered footsteps on the rocks as I sat in the dark,” she said. “If it had been windy that evening, I’m not sure I would have heard it.”

Tony Clayton said he found two scorpions last Monday after a rainstorm. The pictures he posted didn’t do them justice, he added, as they were the biggest he’s seen since moving to the area.

Additionally, Carrie Carlson Kartchner said her 18-year-old son found a juvenile scorpion in his bed as he pulled back the covers.

Scorpions

A scorpion found in a resident’s yard, Santa Clara, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Christa Dietzel, St. George News

While the small arthropods are “always abundant in Southern Utah,” they are typically relegated to underground burrows, seeking refuge from the heat of sunshine of daytime, Bill Heyborne, a professor of Biology at Southern Utah University, said. They emerge to feed at night.

Heyborne said these nocturnal arachnids are most active when it is cooler and more humid, so scorpions can remain active for longer periods during the day and are more likely to encounter humans during monsoon season, Heyborne said.

“Fortunately, most of the local species are relatively harmless and just want to be left alone,” he said.

While scorpions typically stay hidden, they are also territorial and spread out during the rainy season, which is one reason why people start finding them near houses this time of year, said Amanda Barth, rare insect conservation coordinator with Utah State University, who partners with the Utah Department of Natural Resources.

Additionally, the city has expanded into scorpion habitat, increasing the chance of a human-wildlife encounter, Barth said.

Peak scorpion season is August-September, Barth added, and while the monsoon season is one reason for increased scorpion sightings, the arthropods also are responding to a boost in prey availability and are in the midst of their mating season.

A desert hairy scorpion, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 24, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News

Heyborne said these arthropods are abundant in some habitats and are frequently found near homes, as they are attracted by insect prey and access to water. Scorpions are “great insect control,” he added.

Scorpions will eat “basically anything” they can sting and grasp with their pincers, Heyborne said, including smaller members of the same species. Scorpions are also a food source for other predators, such as lizards, birds and bats.

While scorpions look intimidating and have a bad reputation, Heyborne said they serve a key role in their environment.

“Scorpions are actually essential members of desert ecosystems and play an important role in local food webs,” he said.

Where are they?

A scorpion eating, date and location not specified | Photo courtesy of Justin Runnels, St. George News

Because they’re a good source of nutrition for other creatures, Barth said the critters like to hide under rocks and leaf litter.

“It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, and (scorpions are) very small and everybody’s hungry,” she said.

They establish territories to avoid each other and can smell the presence of other scorpions, Barth said. Because their eyes contain “very simple lenses,” they rely on scent and vibrations to get a sense of their surroundings.

The scorpions in St. George are typically found near washes and wetter areas in lower-elevation valleys, Barth said. They require warm temperatures at night to be active, as they are coldblooded and “their bodies are the same temperature as the air.”

Should a person find a scorpion in their home, Barth said the “easiest thing to do is to sweep it into a dust pan and put it outside. Because they’re “flimsy,” they avoid conflict and only sting when feeling threatened and  “really don’t pose that much of a threat.”

“They would prefer to be safe,” she said. “Just being aware, not panicking and not treating them like little villains, because they’re not. They’re blind practically.”

While getting stung by a local species can be painful, she emphasizes that the arthropod’s stinger is its only defense mechanism.

“Besides hiding, which if that didn’t work, then the last thing — their last resort is to sting,” she said.

A desert hairy scorpion’s stinger, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 24, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News

Individuals can get stung by flipping over rocks, digging barehanded in leaf litter or while gardening if they accidentally disturb a hiding scorpion, Barth said.

“Safety comes with awareness, right? And just really recognizing that if there’s some plant material out there, that’s probably going to be somebody’s home,” she said.

Scorpions can be found using a black light, as it causes them to fluoresce, Heyborne said.

“No one knows for sure why this occurs, but it is one way that scorpion researchers locate them — by walking around rocky, desert areas at night with a black light,” he said.

Additionally, Barth said that if crickets can be heard in the area, sightings are more likely as they are an important prey source for scorpions.

Local species

Scorpion under a black light, date and location not specified | Photo courtesy of Savannah Viator, St. George News

Barth said while there are about eight species that can be found in Southern Utah, residents are most likely to encounter two or three types.

Where these desert-dwellers can be found varies depending on the region, Heyborne said. In Washington and Kane counties, the largest species is the desert hairy scorpion, and while it looks intimidating, it has a “relatively mild” sting.

The desert hairy scorpion’s venom contains the same active compounds as a honey bee, which can be dangerous to those with a bee allergy. While it typically has a docile temperament, Barth said it could get aggressive with animals their size.

Another arthropod common to the area, with more slender, elongated pincers, is the smaller Arizona bark scorpion. Its venom can be “quite dangerous,” Heyborne said.

“Especially for children, old people or folks with underlying health conditions,” he said.

Barth said the Arizona bark scorpion, which can be found across Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, is the most venomous in North America. They are most active in late July and August.

A scorpion, date and location not specified | Photo courtesy of Dennis Nash, St. George News

Their stings are not typically deadly but can cause severe pain for 1-3 days. And while thousands are stung yearly, there have been about two fatalities in the last 50 years, Barth said.

In Iron, Garfield and Beaver counties, the largest species is commonly known as the “burrowing scorpion” and has “swollen pincers and a feisty attitude,” Heyborne said.

“However, it is not likely to sting unless provoked,” he said.

The northern scorpion is the most commonly encountered species in Utah, Heyborne said. It’s a midsized species with dark, longitudinal stripes and can be found throughout the state.

To read more stories from St. George residents and view all the photos shared in the comments on St. George Word of Mouth, click here. Because the group is private, users who are not already members would need to request to join to view the post.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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