Scorpions in Orlando? Yep, but don’t panic.
From attic termites to snakes under porches, we’ve seen it all in Florida pest control. Scorpions? Rare, but real. In this guide, I’ll break down where they show up, why it happens, and how to keep them out for good.
Let’s dive in.
Types of Scorpions Found in Central Florida
While scorpions in Orlando aren’t exactly a daily sight, there are a few species that show up from time to time, especially in spots where natural habitat meets human development.
Full Statewide Guide -> Types Of Scorpions Found In Florida
Florida Bark Scorpion (Centruroides gracilis)
Photo Source -> Natural History of Orange County, California
The Florida Bark Scorpion is the largest and most recognizable of the local species. They’re typically brown with faint yellow dashes along their back and can grow up to four inches long. If you’ve ever opened a shoe or pulled back a bedsheet and found one of these, you won’t forget it.
What makes them particularly tricky is their behavior. Unlike many other scorpions, bark scorpions are skilled climbers. We’ve found them on ceilings, in closets, and even tucked into curtain folds. They’re nocturnal and love tight, dark places like attics, garages, under baseboards. Despite their intimidating look and painful sting, their venom isn’t life-threatening. Most people describe it as similar to a bee sting, though those with allergies should still be cautious.
Hentz Striped Scorpion (Centruroides hentzi)
Photo Source -> Animalia
The Hentz Striped Scorpion is smaller (usually between two and three inches) and more muted in color, ranging from tan to dark brown with pale greenish-yellow stripes across its body. It’s actually the most popular scorpion species found throughout Florida, and yet many folks go their whole lives without spotting one.
Why? Because they’re ground-dwellers. You’ll typically find them hiding under stones, logs, mulch, or debris piles. They’re shy, solitary, and generally stay out of human structures unless their natural habitat is disrupted.
Guiana Striped Scorpion
Rare in Central Florida, the Guiana Striped Scorpion is more of a southern Florida resident, favoring tropical zones like Miami-Dade, Collier, and Monroe counties. That said, we’ve had isolated reports of them around Orlando, especially in landscapes with dense vegetation or imported palm trees.
These scorpions are typically yellow or light tan and range from one to three inches long. Unlike the Bark Scorpion, they’re not known for entering homes. They stick to thick foliage, ground cover, and garden beds, making them more of a worry for avid gardeners than homeowners.
How Often Do Scorpions Appear in Orlando Homes and Yards?
As Orlando expands, new homes, roads, and commercial developments are popping up in what used to be scorpion-friendly habitat. It's not that they’re taking over our neighborhoods, it’s that we’re moving into theirs.
When they do appear, it’s usually in quiet, undisturbed areas like garages, outdoor sheds, crawlspaces, or stacked firewood. We’ve had homeowners discover them tucked under cardboard boxes or hiding near water heaters; places that stay dark and rarely get cleaned.
So, while scorpions in Orlando remain rare, they’re not unheard of. And in certain conditions, like wooded edges of new subdivisions or older neighborhoods bordering conservation areas, sightings are becoming just frequent enough to raise eyebrows.
Seasonal Sightings
If there’s a “scorpion season” in Central Florida, it’s definitely summer. The combination of heavy rainfall and soaring temperatures creates ideal conditions for these nocturnal wanderers.
Another factor many people overlook is outdoor lighting. Bugs swarm toward porch lights and floodlights at night, and scorpions are never far behind.
So, you’re unlikely to see a scorpion in your Orlando home, but under the right circumstances, it’s not out of the question.
How to Identify a Scorpion vs Other Bugs
When a customer calls us in a panic after spotting “something terrifying” skitter across the garage floor, it’s usually one of two things: a legitimate scorpion or something that just looks like one.
Look for These Features
Start with the two large front pincers, which they use to catch prey. Behind that, you'll see an elongated body with four pairs of legs and a segmented tail that curves over its back, ending in a stinger.
What many homeowners don’t realize is that scorpions also fluoresce under UV light. If you’re really spooked and want to do a quick sweep of the bedroom or garage, that trick can bring peace of mind. Just remember: don’t panic if you don’t know what you’re looking at, reach out to a pro.
Frequent Misidentifications
Wolf spiders, for example, are quick movers and can have a similarly bulky profile, especially in dim lighting. Earwigs, with their rear pincers, often trigger alarm despite being totally harmless. And believe it or not, I once had a customer describe what turned out to be a scorpion as looking like a “tiny lobster.”
Even baby lizards and crickets get thrown into the mix. That’s why identification matters. If you’re ever unsure, don’t play the guessing game. Our team is happy to inspect and confirm whether you’ve got a scorpion or just a misunderstood insect looking for shelter.
Why Are Scorpions in My House?
Why here? Why now?
The answer is less about the scorpions themselves and more about what they’re searching for: food, moisture, and shelter. If your home provides any of those three, it might just look like a five-star resort to a wandering scorpion.
Top Attraction Factors
Moisture is a big one. Anywhere humidity levels are high and airflow is poor. Just like roaches and termites, they seek water first.
Next comes food. Scorpions are insectivores, which means they hunt pests like roaches, spiders, crickets, and even termites. If you’ve got a consistent bug problem, scorpions may just be following the buffet line into your home.
And of course, they’re after shelter. Woodpiles stacked against the house, mulch beds, cardboard boxes, and cluttered garages create the perfect hiding places.
Orlando-Specific Conditions
Orlando’s subtropical climate creates its own unique challenges. Our high humidity, especially in unsealed attics, wall voids, or garages, creates a year-round invitation for scorpions and the bugs they feed on.
One more important detail: weather events matter. After a major rainstorm or hurricane, scorpions are often displaced from their normal habitat. We’ve seen increased calls within a day or two of storms as they flee saturated ground and seek drier ground and sometimes right through the tiniest gaps in your foundation.
If you've spotted one inside, it doesn’t necessarily mean an infestation but it does mean it's time to assess your home's defenses.
Prevention Tips: How to Keep Scorpions Out
Photo Source -> McNeese State University
Whether you’ve already spotted one or just want to keep them off your radar entirely, here are some tried-and-true methods that make a real difference.
Seal and Secure
Scorpions are sneaky. I’ve seen them squeeze through openings no wider than a credit card.
Start by caulking gaps around windows, pipes, utility lines, and exterior vents. Pay extra attention to the spots behind appliances or under sinks where plumbing lines enter. Install door sweeps on exterior doors and replace old or damaged weather stripping, especially around garage doors and sliding glass doors.
Yard and Storage Habits
Scorpions don’t just wander in from nowhere, they follow the trail from outside. Keeping your yard clean and well-managed can drastically reduce their presence near your home.
Keep firewood, lumber, and brush piles at least 20 feet away from the structure. These are prime hiding spots that also attract the insects scorpions love to eat. Trim trees, shrubs, and vines back from the exterior walls of your house.
We also advise storing cardboard boxes and unused items off the floor in sheds and garages. Scorpions love quiet, undisturbed nooks so the fewer you give them, the better.
Use Lighting to Your Advantage
You wouldn’t think lighting matters much when dealing with a nocturnal pest, but it does. Insects are drawn to bright lights, and scorpions follow the food. That’s why installing outdoor lighting with yellow, insect-resistant bulbs around entrances, patios, and garages can be a subtle but effective deterrent.
It also helps with visibility both for your peace of mind and for spotting a potential problem early. I always recommend homeowners do a visual sweep of high-risk areas at night using a blacklight flashlight as scorpions fluoresce under UV light, making them easy to spot before they become a surprise in your shoe or bed.
What to Do If You See a Scorpion in Orlando
Finding a scorpion in your home can trigger a quick shot of panic but I want you to know, it doesn’t have to. Scorpions aren’t aggressive by nature, and most encounters can be resolved safely and calmly.
Step-by-Step
Stay calm. I know that’s easier said than done, especially if it’s crawling across the floor at midnight. But resist the urge to stomp or swat it, especially barefoot. Not only could you risk a sting, but you'll also lose track of it, which is worse.
Grab a jar or cup. A clear glass works great. Gently place it over the scorpion to trap it. If it’s on a wall or ceiling, carefully coax it down using a long object like a broom handle just be sure to avoid direct contact.
Slide stiff paper or cardboard underneath. Once you’ve got the scorpion contained, slip something solid underneath and slowly lift the container.
Carry it outside and release. While the sting isn’t dangerous to most, it’s still best to treat every scorpion sighting with caution. And of course, you want to prevent future visits.
Call a professional if sightings persist. A one-off sighting might just be a fluke. But if you’re seeing scorpions more than once, or in multiple areas of the house, it’s time for a thorough inspection.
Should You Be Worried About Scorpions in Orlando?
If you’ve spotted a single scorpion in your Orlando home, there’s no need to panic. Most of the time, it’s a lone wanderer; disoriented, displaced by the weather, or lured inside by prey. But if you’ve seen more than one, or if you’re noticing other pest issues around the same time, it may be your home’s way of telling you something’s off.
The good news? You don’t have to tackle this on your own.
Our team has the tools, the training, and the local experience to uncover the why behind your scorpion sighting, and to help make sure it doesn’t happen again.