Scorpions are predatory arachnids found across nearly all terrestrial habitats. While often associated with warm, arid environments, their relationship with environmental temperatures is complex and fundamental to their survival.
Scorpions and Temperature Sensitivity
Scorpions are ectotherms, meaning their internal body temperature is regulated by the external environment. They cannot generate their own body heat, so their activity levels and metabolic processes are directly influenced by the surrounding temperature. When temperatures drop, a scorpion’s metabolism slows significantly, affecting functions like digestion and movement. This metabolic slowdown conserves energy but also reduces their overall activity.
Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can be detrimental, as it impedes their ability to forage and escape predators. While scorpions can tolerate a broad range of temperatures, their optimal range typically falls between 70 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 37 degrees Celsius). Temperatures below this optimal range cause them to become sluggish, and sustained freezing conditions can be fatal. For example, research indicates that 24 hours at -6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit) can be lethal for over half of a scorpion population, and -17 degrees Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit) is universally fatal within the same timeframe.
Cold Weather Survival Tactics
When faced with cold conditions, scorpions employ various survival mechanisms to endure the chill rather than actively seeking it. They commonly retreat to sheltered locations such as burrows, under rocks, or within crevices to escape freezing temperatures. Many species, especially those in temperate zones, will enter a state of reduced activity or dormancy, allowing them to conserve energy and survive periods when conditions are unfavorable.
During this period of inactivity, their metabolic rate decreases dramatically. Some scorpion species have also developed physiological adaptations to tolerate brief freezing temperatures by producing cryoprotectants, substances that prevent ice crystal formation within their cells. For instance, the scorpion Centruroides vittatus can survive periodic exposure to freezing temperatures due to such mechanisms. These adaptations enable them to weather cold spells until warmer conditions return.
Global Habitats and Cold Tolerance
Scorpions are found across all continents except Antarctica, exhibiting a wide geographical distribution. While they are often associated with warm, arid, and semi-arid climates like deserts and grasslands, their adaptability allows some species to inhabit regions with cooler seasons, including temperate zones and high altitudes. For example, some species can be found as far north as Alberta, Canada, and at elevations up to 5,500 meters (18,000 feet) in the Andes mountains.
Species living in these cooler environments have evolved specific adaptations to cope with periodic cold. These adaptations may include deeper burrowing capabilities, which provide a more stable thermal environment underground, or unique physiological tolerances that help them endure temporary drops in temperature. Despite these specialized adaptations, scorpions in all habitats actively avoid extreme or prolonged freezing conditions. Their presence in cooler regions highlights their resilience, but it does not indicate a preference for cold.
Why Scorpions Enter Homes
During colder months or unexpected temperature drops, scorpions may seek refuge inside human structures. They do not enter homes because they prefer cold, but rather because indoor environments offer warmth, consistent temperatures, and shelter from harsh outdoor elements. Homes also provide access to water and potential prey, especially if there are other insect infestations.
Scorpions can enter buildings through surprisingly small openings, sometimes needing only a gap as narrow as 1/16th of an inch. Common entry points include cracks in foundations, gaps under doors and windows, utility pipe openings, and even vents. Once inside, they will seek dark, secluded spots like wall voids, basements, crawl spaces, or cluttered areas to hide. A warm, dry indoor environment offers a much higher chance of survival compared to freezing outdoor conditions, making homes an attractive, albeit unintended, shelter for these arachnids.