Skip to content
Florida Bark Scorpion on white background

Florida Bark Scorpion

Actual Size: 4 inches (females), 6 inches (males)

Characteristics: Colors that range from reddish-black to dark brown, with reddish claws, yellowish legs, and a dark tail.

Legs: 8

Antennae: None

Wings: None

Habitat: Commonly found in wooded regions, especially in places with plenty of trees and tree bark. They can also be found under logs, rocks, tree bark, palm trees, and in residential structures.

Habits:

  • Their Venom is not life-threatening but it can cause a sharp, painful sting.
  • Nocturnal hunters that feed on insects, arachnids, and other small arthropods. 
  • Excellent climbers that can often be found on tree trunks, fences, and walls.

Florida Bark Scorpion in Florida

The Florida Bark Scorpion, or Centruroides gracilis, is commonly called the brown bark scorpion or slender brown scorpion. It boasts a reddish-black to dark brown body that can grow up to 6 inches in length, with reddish claws, yellowish legs, and a dark tail. This species lives for about 33 to 38 months and is often hunted by tarantulas. It feeds primarily on insects like roaches, termites, and crickets, offering a natural pest control benefit.

Florida Bark Scorpion Habitat

Although it’s called the Florida Bark Scorpion, it actually originates from Central America, not Florida. This nocturnal creature prefers hiding under boards in both newly built and abandoned structures. It is particularly attracted to warm, humid environments. In search of food, it will climb trees and squeeze into homes through any available cracks.

Florida Bark Scorpion Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Though the sting of the Florida Bark Scorpion is highly painful, it is not as venomous as those of their relatives in Central and South America. The pain from the sting can be intense but typically subsides after a few hours. Immediate symptoms of a sting include pain, redness, itching, and swelling, while severe reactions may lead to nausea, vomiting, shock, and even coma. If you find a scorpion, call a pest control expert for swift removal.

Related Pests