Bug FAQLesser Stripetail Scorpion
Chihuahuanus coahuilae · Order: Scorpiones · Family: Vaejovidae
Source: Wikipedia
Males reach about 35 mm and females 40 to 45 mm, occasionally up to 55 mm. It lives in Mexico and the southwestern United States, especially Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. It inhabits deserts, grasslands, and rocky mountain slopes up to 7,000 ft, often burrowing under rocks and debris.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males grow to about 35 mm (1.4 in). Females are usually 40 to 45 mm (1.6 to 1.8 in) but can reach up to 55 mm (2.2 in).
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
The sting is very painful and the pain can last 15 to 30 minutes or longer. Minor swelling and edema may occur during that time.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occupies desert flats, rolling grasslands, and rocky mountain slopes up to roughly 7,000 ft (2,100 m). Being a burrower, it is most easily found with a black light and under rocks or debris.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, especially Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 5 of 51 states and DC. Most records: New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Utah, Colorado.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How big does the lesser stripetail scorpion get?
Males are about 35 mm long, while females are usually 40 to 45 mm and can sometimes reach 55 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this scorpion found?
It occurs in Mexico and the southwestern United States, especially in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
What habitats does it prefer?
It lives in deserts, grasslands, and rocky slopes up to 7,000 ft, often burrowing under rocks and debris.
Source: Wikipedia
How painful is its sting?
The sting is very painful and can last 15 to 30 minutes, sometimes longer, with minor swelling.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Vaejovidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_stripetail_scorpion
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.