Pseudoscorpions

Order Pseudoscorpionida

The Pseudoscorpions (Order Pseudoscorpionida) includes 13 species across 7 families and 13 genera in our directory.

About Pseudoscorpions

Pseudoscorpionida includes ~3,500 described species. These tiny arachnids (2-8mm) look like miniature scorpions with large pincers but no tail stinger. They are completely harmless and mostly unseen by humans due to their small size.

Economic Impact

Pseudoscorpions are beneficial predators that feed on booklice, mites, clothes moth larvae, and other household pests. The book scorpion (Chelifer cancroides) has been associated with human dwellings for centuries.

Ecological Role

Many pseudoscorpion species practice phoresy - they hitch rides by grabbing onto the legs of beetles and flies with their pincers to disperse to new habitats. They produce silk from glands in their jaws (chelicerae) to build brood chambers.

Families in Pseudoscorpionida (7)

Species in Pseudoscorpionida (13)

Mirochernes dentatus

Chernetidae

Identification: Anvil-shaped (flat bottomed) protrusion on the male's pedipalp is diagnostic. Other related genera have males with rounded protrusions (Hoff, 1949).