Scorpion observing in Sonora Desert?

Summer is waning, although in the arid desert the scorpions will be active for a longer time. Look near shady rocks and trees, around morning or late evening.

There are many species of spiders and a dozen or

more of scorpions to be found. Also sun spiders,

probably whip scorpions if the right ecological

conditions are available, and others. With respect

to spiders there are two major groups of species, one of them in forested areas, which means the

mountains, the other in more open habitats, down

into the desert. Scorpions can be found in both

areas, though different species at different

elevations. The scorpions can be hunted at night

with an ultraviolet light, which causes them to glow.

During the day they can often be found under rocks and logs. The best advice is just to go out

and look in as many different places as possible.

There are hundreds of kinds of spiders in the area,

with various habitat requirements, including a few

burrowing trapdoor spiders. Some are out in the

open in webs on plants in the daytime, other web

builders may retreat into a sheltered place during

the day and come out on a web at night. Look under rocks and logs, on and in buildings, watch

for folded up leaves on plants and see what is in

the fold. I haven't tried it in Arizona but a way that

works well in other areas is to spread a sheet on

the ground under a bush or tree and shake it

thoroughly over the sheet.