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Scorpions in Louisiana: Species, Stings & Lookalikes

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. Which scorpions can hurt you
  2. The one scorpion
  3. When they are active
  4. If you are bitten or stung
  5. What official sources say
  6. About this list
  7. Sources

This page lists 1 scorpion.

Not every species: no complete official list of Louisiana scorpions exists, so this page covers the ones state and Extension sources name. How lists are built.

Which scorpions can hurt you

Official sources single out these scorpions in Louisiana, in their own words:

The one scorpion on the list

From A to Z. Do not handle them.

Southern Unstriped Scorpion (Southern Devil Scorpion)
Photo: Leila Dasher · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Southern Unstriped Scorpion (Southern Devil Scorpion)

Vaejovis carolinianus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Danger to people
“Its sting has been compared to that of a bee or wasp.” LDWF species profile: Southern Unstriped Scorpion
Where in Louisiana
West Feliciana Parish (East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest) LDWF species profile: Southern Unstriped Scorpion
What the sources say

Habitat: Like most scorpions, spends the majority of its time hidden under objects on the ground such as rocks and logs. (LDWF species profile: Southern Unstriped Scorpion)

When scorpions are active in Louisiana

Records of scorpions in Louisiana peak in March to April and July to August. They show when people record scorpions, not how many there are (about month bars).

31 records of scorpions in Louisiana by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).

If you are bitten or stung

Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.

What official sources say

Are there scorpions in Louisiana?

Rarely. LDWF: the Southern Unstriped Scorpion is restricted in Louisiana to West Feliciana Parish. LDWF species profile: Southern Unstriped Scorpion

“In Louisiana, restricted to the East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest of West Feliciana Parish.”

About this list

Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.

Sources

  1. About Us. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  2. LDWF species profile: Southern Unstriped Scorpion. archived copy, captured April 21, 2025; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (2)
    “Its sting has been compared to that of a bee or wasp.”
    “In Louisiana, restricted to the East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest of West Feliciana Parish.”
  3. GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.