4 Most Common Scorpion Species in Las Vegas and How to Identify Them

Las Vegas is an awesome place in many aspects: great night life, the food, the weather, the shopping, the entertainment… but it is also a desert. This makes it a perfect home to scorpions, which can find their way into your home. There is around 25 different species of scorpions living in Nevada, and 4 most common for Las Vegas.

If you encounter a scorpion, you shouldn’t panic, but you should be careful. Immediately contact a scorpion exterminator. They are nocturnal, which makes it harder to notice them and easier to step on… If you have a serious scorpion problem, you sould deffinitely call the professionals. Meanwhile, here is how to differentiate between different scorpions.

How to recognize different scorpions in Las Vegas

Not all scorpions in Las Vegas are venomous Arizona bark scorpions, but it is always smart to be as careful as possible. Although there is around 25 different scorpion spieces in Nevada, there are 5 most common Las Vegas scorpions. Here is how you can identify them.

Arizona giant hairy scorpion

They can be over 4 inches long, they it small lizards, other scorpions and spiders. Their pedipalps and legs are covered in dense hairs, more than any other American scorpion. Their “back” (dorsal sruface) is dark or black.

Arizona stripetail scorpion

These scorpions are shorter than 3 inches, and you can recognize them easily thanks to the ring-shaped stripes around their back.

Yellow ground scorpion

Yellow ground scorpion is granular and yellowish and they can look similar to Arizona bark scorpion. The difference is that their first two metasomal segments, or first two parts of their “tail” are either wider than longer or as wide as long.

Arizona bark scorpion

They are usually about 2 to 3 inches long, they climb rough surfaces and there are usually more of them – if you have found one, they are probably not alone. They are the most venomous scorpion in Las Vegas and whole North America. That’s why we have have written more info about them.

Arizona bark scorpion – the most venomous scorpion in North America

Arizona bark scorpion is common to Las Vegas and it is a small, light brown type of scorpion which can grow up to 3.1 inches in length (females being a bit smaller). They have a thin tail with a very curved stinger, eight legs and pedipalps. They are very fast and can hide well in both natural environment and indoors, especially in tubs, sinks, drawers, shelves and dark cabinets. They are active by night when they hunt for spiders, cockroaches, crickets and other smaller insects.

The venom of this Las Vegas scorpion is dangerous for humans, it can cause severe pain, tingling, vomiting and illness that lasts up to three days. The cases of death are rare, but they can be really dangerous to young children and older people, as well as pets.

What to do when stung by a scorpion?

When stung by any scorpion, including the venomous Arizona bark scorpion, you should immediately wash the area with soap and water, apply a cool compress and call or visit your doctor promptly.s scorpion is dangerous for humans, it can cause severe pain, tingling, vomiting and illness that lasts up to three days. The cases of death are rare, but they can be really dangerous to young children and older people, as well as pets.

What to do when stung by scorpion?

When stung by any scorpion, including the venomous Arizona bark scorpion, you should immediately wash the area with soap and water, apply a cool compress and call or visit your doctor promptly.