Virginia is home to only one native scorpion species, the Southern Devil Scorpion, also known as the Southern Unstriped Scorpion. While scorpion encounters are far less common in Hampton Roads than in the southwestern United States, these arachnids do occasionally turn up in homes, particularly in rural or wooded areas.
The Southern Devil Scorpion is a small, brown scorpion typically measuring one to two inches in length. Its sting is comparable to a bee sting — painful but generally not dangerous to healthy adults. However, young children, elderly individuals, and those with allergies may experience more significant reactions.
Scorpions are nocturnal hunters that seek out cool, dark hiding places during the day. They enter homes through gaps under doors, cracks in foundations, spaces around utility penetrations, and openings around windows. They are adept climbers and can scale rough exterior surfaces to reach upper-level entry points.
Inside, scorpions are most commonly found in bathrooms, closets, garages, and shoes or clothing left on the floor. They are attracted to moisture and the insects they prey on, so homes with existing pest populations are more likely to attract scorpions.
Scorpion prevention focuses on exclusion and habitat modification. Sealing all gaps and cracks around the exterior, installing door sweeps, and ensuring window screens are intact prevent scorpions from entering. Outdoors, removing rock piles, wood debris, and dense ground cover near the foundation eliminates harborage areas.
Professional perimeter treatments create an additional barrier that controls scorpions and the insects they feed on. Reducing the overall pest population around your home is one of the most effective long-term strategies for scorpion prevention, as fewer prey insects mean less reason for scorpions to be on your property.
Our scorpion control services combine exclusion, habitat modification, and perimeter treatment for comprehensive protection.
Learn everything that you need to know about scorpion control.
