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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones)

Order Pseudoscorpiones - Pseudoscorpions

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Works Cited
Pseudoscorpion Pseudoscorpion Pseudoscorpion - Apochthonius Pseudoscorpion - Chelifer cancroides Pseudoscorpion - Microbisium Pseudoscorpion
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Pseudoscorpiones (Pseudoscorpions)
Other Common Names
false scorpions
Explanation of Names
"Pseudoscorpiones" is from the Latin word-element pseudo, derived from Greek pseudos (ψηυδος) "false" + Latin scorpiones, the nominative singular form of scorpio "scorpion".
Numbers
US: ~420 spp., 110 genera, 20 families(1); Canada: 26 spp., 20 genera, 7 families recorded; about as many others likely to occur(2)
worldwide: ~3,530 spp. in >450 genera of 26 families(3)(4)
Size
body usually <3 mm
Identification
small, flat, with pincer-like pedipalps (but no stinging "tail" as in true scorpions)
identification keys provided in(2)(4)
Range
worldwide
Habitat
under bark and stones, in leaf litter, caves, and homes(5)
Food
Most individuals have poison glands in their pincers which they use to subdue small insects.(6)
Remarks
They are not pests and are considered harmless
Even though most individuals have venom glands, the animals are not large enough to hurt people(6)
Can run backwards with ease
Often hitchhike on beetles to disperse

I remember them being abundant in the chicken houses I was responsible for while growing up and I assume they must have been feeding on bird lice [Troy]
None are known to be parasitic but they feed on arthropods in bird and rodent nests. They are sometimes found on beetles or other large insects where they apparently feed on mites.(7)
They commonly hitch rides on beetles or other flying arthropods to travel.
Works Cited
1.Taylor S. (2009-2011) Pseudoscorpions
2.Photographic key to the Pseudoscorpions of Canada and the adjacent USA
C.M. Buddle. 2010. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification No. 10.
3.Order Pseudoscorpiones. In: Zhang Z.-Q. (ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification...
Harvey M.S. 2013. Zootaxa 3703: 34–35.
4.Harvey, M.S. (2009). Pseudoscorpions of the World, version 1.2. Western Australian Museum, Perth
5.National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders
Lorus and Margery Milne. 1980. Knopf.
6.Spiders and Their Kin: A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press
Herbert W. Levi, Lorna R. Levi, Nicholas Strekalovsky. 2001. St. Martin's Press.
7.A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects
Bastiaan M. Drees, John A. Jackman. 1998. Gulf Publishing.
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 22 March, 2004 - 10:00pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Christopher C Wirth, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Graham M, ceiseman, James C. Trager, v belov, Blocky, Tyler Hedlund
Last updated 24 February, 2021 - 9:22am

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