Scorpion Season in Abilene: When and Why They Come In

Ask anyone who's lived in Abilene a few years and they'll have a scorpion story. Most involve a bathtub, a shoe or a towel left on the floor. Here's why they show up when they do.

Heat drives them inside

Striped bark scorpions shelter in the daytime and hunt at night. Texas A&M AgriLife says they commonly climb walls and trees, are often found in attics, and may move indoors in hot weather to escape the attic heat. With Abilene summers stacking up 100-degree days, the attic is an oven, and the cooler house below looks pretty good.

That's why sightings pile up in the hottest months. Bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms have water, and scorpions find them.

Where to look

Indoors: tubs, sinks, behind toilets, in closets, in shoes, in folded towels and bedding that touches the floor. Outdoors: under boards, rocks, firewood and debris, along fences and on walls at night.

A UV flashlight makes them glow. Walk the yard after dark and you'll see how many are around.

• Shake out shoes and boots
• Keep bedding off the floor
• Check towels before using them
• Look up: they climb walls and ceilings

Stings

AgriLife says stings are painful and can cause swelling and itching for several days, and reactions vary. It also says no Texas scorpions are considered lethal to people. See a doctor if a child is stung or if anyone has a strong reaction.

What to do about it

Our scorpion prevention checklist covers the yard and house steps. If you're finding them every week, a provider can treat the outside and point out entry spots. See scorpion control.

Services: Scorpion Control | Spider Control | Cricket Control

More guides: Common pests in Abilene | Seasonal pests and weather | Keeping scorpions out | Signs of termites | What attracts roaches | Preventing bed bugs