Blog · Updated 2026-10-23

Why Are There So Many Scorpions in My House?

One in the tub, one on the ceiling, one by the back door. If it feels like scorpions are taking over, you are not alone. Here is what draws them in and how to get rid of scorpions in a way that lasts.

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Quick answer

Scorpions come into West Texas homes for shade, moisture and food. Heat drives them indoors, and crickets and roaches around your home feed them. They get in through weep holes, door gaps and pipe holes. The fix is to cut their food, seal the gaps and treat where they hide outside.

The Short Answer: Your House Has What They Need

If you keep asking why are there so many scorpions in my house, it helps to think like a scorpion. In the Permian Basin, it needs three things to survive a long, hot summer: a cool place to hide, a little moisture and bugs to eat. A home gives all three.

The scorpion you are seeing is almost always the striped bark scorpion. It is tan with two dark stripes down its back and grows to about 2½ inches. Texas A&M AgriLife says it is the only scorpion found across the whole state, so it is the one behind most calls in Odessa and Midland. Learn more in our scorpion guide.

Reason 1: The Heat Pushes Them Inside

Summer afternoons in Odessa regularly top 90 degrees. AgriLife notes that when it gets hot, scorpions may leave the attic and move into living areas. They look for the coolest, dampest places in the house. That is why bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and garages are where most people find them.

You may also see more right after a storm. Rain floods their hiding spots under rocks and boards, so they move. Your home is the closest dry shelter.

Reason 2: They Are Following Their Food

Scorpions eat crickets, roaches, spiders and other small insects. If your yard and home have a lot of bugs, scorpions will move in to hunt them.

Common bug magnets include:

Bright white porch and garage lights that draw crickets at night
Leaky hoses and AC drip lines that keep soil damp
Pet food left out overnight
Thick weeds and ground cover against the walls
Trash cans and recycling stored by the door

Cutting down the bugs means fewer meals for scorpions. That alone can make a big difference.

Reason 3: Your Home Has Open Doors You Can't See

A striped bark scorpion is thin and flat. It can slide through very small gaps. These are the most common entry points in Basin homes:

Weep holes. The small gaps at the bottom of brick walls are made for drainage, but scorpions walk right in.
Gaps under doors. Worn or missing door sweeps are a big one, especially the door from the garage.
Garage doors. Old rubber seals crack and leave gaps at the corners.
Pipe and wire holes. Spots where plumbing, cable and AC lines enter the house.
Attic vents and soffits. This scorpion climbs walls with ease and can enter high up.
Windows and screens. Torn screens and loose frames let them in.

Reason 4: There Is a Lot of Open Land Nearby

Homes next to brush, empty lots, rock piles or new construction often see more scorpions. Fresh grading and building stir them up and push them toward the nearest homes. That is why newer neighborhoods on the edge of town and places like West Odessa see so many.

Reason 5: They Have Been Breeding

AgriLife says a female carries her young for about 8 months, then gives birth to 13 to 47 babies. The young ride on her back at first and then spread out. A few adults living in a wall, attic or wood pile near the house can turn into many more in a year.

How to Get Rid of Scorpions

Spraying alone rarely works. AgriLife says scorpions are hard to control with insecticides alone. The best plan has three parts.

Cut the hiding spots
Move wood piles, rocks, boards and junk away from the house. Trim plants off the walls. Keep a strip of bare ground or gravel along the foundation.
Seal the gaps
Screen weep holes with covers made for them, add door sweeps, fix garage door seals and fill holes around pipes. This step keeps working long after any spray wears off.
Treat where they live
Your technician will treat the base of the walls, around doors and windows, at the eaves and in the attic when needed. Inside, they treat cracks and entry points rather than open floors.

A blacklight walk at night is a good way to see how many live around your home, since scorpions glow under UV light. For the full plan, see scorpion control. Routine general pest control helps keep the bugs they eat in check too.

Safety Tips While You Work on the Problem

Shake out shoes, clothes and towels before using them.
Move beds so they don't touch the wall, and keep blankets off the floor.
Wear gloves when moving boxes, wood or yard debris.
Use a flashlight at night when walking barefoot.

If someone is stung, wash the spot, use a cold pack and call Texas Poison Control at 1 800 222 1222 for advice. Get emergency help for trouble breathing or a child who acts very sick.

Scorpion Questions

What does a scorpion in the tub tell me?

Scorpions look for water in hot weather, and bathrooms are damp. They can climb into a tub but have a hard time getting back up the slick sides. Finding them there often means they are getting in through gaps around pipes, vents or a bathroom window nearby.

Does finding one scorpion mean there are more?

Often, yes. Scorpions are active at night and hide during the day, so one you see may be part of a larger group living in the walls, attic or yard. A blacklight check around the outside of the house after dark shows how many are nearby.

Will scorpions leave on their own?

Not usually. As long as your home offers shade, water and bugs to eat, scorpions have a reason to stay. Cutting their food, sealing gaps and treating the outside walls is what makes them move on or stop coming in.

Do glue traps help with scorpions?

Glue traps placed along walls, behind doors and in closets can catch some scorpions and show where they travel. They work best as a monitoring tool. They won't solve a large problem alone, but they help you and your technician see if the plan is working.

Same Day Service Available

Ready to Stop Seeing Scorpions?

Tired of checking your shoes every morning? Request a free inspection. Your technician will find how scorpions get in and set a plan for your home.

Odessa Pest Control connects you with a local pest control technician. Ask for their Texas license number before work starts.