Striped Bark Scorpion Control in Boerne, TX
Most people in Boerne meet a striped bark scorpion at night: a tan scorpion with two dark stripes down its back, climbing a wall, sitting in the bathtub or curled in a shoe left by the door. The first move is not to handle it, then to look for more after dark and start removing the clutter and gaps that let them live near and get into the house. If you keep finding them indoors, call or text (210) 281-1064 or book online.
Two stripes and a dark triangle #
Texas A&M AgriLife describes the striped bark scorpion as yellowish tan with two broad dark stripes along the back and a dark triangle on the head, with slender pincers and a long, thin tail. AgriLife sources put adults at about 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches. Of the 18 scorpion species in Texas, it is the only one found across the whole state, so it is the likeliest candidate for a scorpion in a home here.
Two look-alikes without venom cause confusion: pseudoscorpions, which are under 1/4 inch and have no tail, and wind scorpions, also called sun spiders. And while a CDC page warns that a "bark scorpion" sting can be life-threatening, AgriLife says the dangerous Arizona bark scorpion is not found in Texas.
Rock, cedar and debris: why Boerne yards suit them #
Texas Parks and Wildlife describes Hill Country land as shallow, rocky soil with spreading Ashe juniper, or cedar (TPWD). That ground hands scorpions what they want. AgriLife's scorpion leaflet says they shelter under rocks, boards and debris rather than digging burrows, climb trees and walls easily, and are often found in attics (E-362). Loose stone, rock borders, stacked firewood, lumber piles and cedar brush touching the house all qualify.
The same leaflet is blunt that insecticides alone rarely solve a scorpion problem; the surroundings have to change first. That makes debris the main thing a homeowner can control. Start with your own yard, and if the problem is next door, the City of Boerne's code compliance office takes complaints about weedy, trashy lots and abandoned vehicles (<a href="https://www.ci.boerne.tx.us/FAQ/Topic?topic=21&mobile=ON">City of Boerne FAQ), which are exactly the kind of cover scorpions hide in.
Attic heat sends them downstairs #
Striped bark scorpions hide by day and hunt at night. AgriLife notes that in hot weather they can leave baking attics and move into living areas, and dry spells send them looking for water, which may be why people spot them in tubs and sinks. AgriLife's Bexar County entomologist said in 2023 that scorpions look for water and cooler temperatures and squeeze under doors and through small cracks (Texas A&M).
Cleanup and sealing list #
Outside:
- Move rocks, boards, bricks, logs and trash away from the foundation.
- Keep firewood off the ground and away from walls, and bring it in only to burn it.
- Trim branches that touch the roof, and mow close around the house.
- Raise garbage cans off the ground.
The house:
- Weather-strip doors and windows and keep screens tight.
- Stuff weep holes with copper mesh, a nylon scrubbing pad or screen wire; steel wool rusts.
- Seal gaps around eaves and pipes, and any cracks.
At night, a UV flashlight makes them glow blue-green, and sticky traps where you find them show how many are around.
After a sting #
AgriLife says no Texas scorpion is considered deadly. A sting brings sharp, immediate pain, and swelling can last for days. Use an ice pack, but don't plunge the area into ice water, and skip sedatives. Watch the person closely, especially a young child or anyone with allergies, and get medical care right away for trouble breathing, hives, or pain and swelling that don't let up. The Poison Center is at 1-800-222-1222.
How Pest Trappers handles scorpions in Boerne #
The technician looks for where scorpions are living and getting in: rock and wood piles, brush against walls, weep holes, door gaps, the attic and the garage. You get a plain list of sealing and cleanup steps, an explanation of the options for treatment, and any product used goes on according to its label. Pricing comes after the inspection, and the office confirms the time. Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549) is family-owned. See our scorpion guide, the Boerne page, and giant centipedes, which share the same hiding spots.