States Wildlife

Are there scorpions in Texas?

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. The answer
  2. Which ones
  3. Official advice
  4. Sources

Yes.

AgriLife Extension: 18 species; only the striped bark scorpion occurs statewide. Stings from Texas scorpions usually cause only moderate reactions.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: “Texas has 18 species, but only one, the striped bark scorpion, occurs throughout the state.” Source

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Texas

Think you have seen one in Texas? Keep your distance and contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

On Texas's official list

Striped bark scorpion
Photo: Meghan Cassidy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalist · resized

Striped bark scorpion

Centruroides vittatus

Venomous per Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Danger to people
“The stings from Texas scorpions produce only moderate reactions in most people because the poison has little effect on the nervous system. … As with any arthropod venom, allergic reactions are …” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Size
Usually about 2.5 inches. Sources range from 1 to 1.5 inches on average (Missouri Department of Conservation) to up to 3.5 inches (Oklahoma State).
How to recognize it
  • Slender pincers and a long, slender tail. The tail is longer on males than females.
  • Tail ends in a stinger, usually carried up and over the body.
  • Glows under ultraviolet light.
Where in Texas
Statewide; the only species in eastern Texas (Extension) Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
1,106 records by month.
What the sources say

Venom: “On the end of the tail is a bulb-like poison gland or stinger. … The stings from Texas scorpions produce only moderate reactions in most people because the poison has little effect on the nervous system.” (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service)

Habitat: Indoors or outdoors in a wide variety of habitats (Extension) (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service)

Full Striped bark scorpion guide

All scorpions in the state: Texas scorpions.

When scorpions are seen in Texas

1,282 records (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY).

What official sources advise

Other questions about Texas

Sources

  1. Scorpions (ENTO-PU-032 05/22), Wizzie Brown. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. 05/22 (publication code ENTO-PU-032 05/22; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (6)
    “Texas has 18 species, but only one, the striped bark scorpion, occurs throughout the state.”
    “On the end of the tail is a bulb-like poison gland or stinger. … The stings from Texas scorpions produce only moderate reactions in most people because the poison has little effect on the nervous system.”
    “This species can be identified easily by its slender pedipalps (pincer-bearing arms) and long, slender tail.”
    “The stings from Texas scorpions produce only moderate reactions in most people because the poison has little effect on the nervous system. … As with any arthropod venom, allergic reactions are possible.”
    “Adults are about 2½ inches long.”
    “Scorpions are nocturnal, hiding during the day and becoming active at night.”
  2. 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.