Pseudoscorpion

Patrolling the leaf litter, armed with miniature pincers, is the pseudoscorpion.


 The pseudoscorpion (Neobisium sp.) under a microscope, real size ~5mm.


Pseudoscorpions look very much like an actual scorpion, minus the stinging tail. A tiny arachnid just a few millimetres long, they are found in a wide variety of habitats including in the UK. Though they don't have the 'classic' scorpion look, they still have venom, which is used to paralyse their prey, including springtails and mites, and is secreted from their claws.

They can be found inside too, often amongst old, dusty books where they prey on dust mites, this explains their other common name: "book scorpions". One species found frequently in this habitat may have been first described by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, where he found them wandering amongst old scrolls.

Similar to spiders, they can produce silk, but from their chelicerae at their head end, rather than with spinnerets like a spider. This is used for a variety of purposes, including rearing young, mating and aestivation (similar to hibernation), but not for spinning webs. Male pseudoscorpions use this silk to create packets of sperm, known as spermatophores, to give to females. This can involve an elaborate mating 'dance', which can include holding pincers, a rather romantic picture!


A close up of the pseudoscorpion's pincers, which are modified pedipalps.

Pseudoscorpions can be phoretic on some fly and beetle species. This is where one species is carried around by another in a non-parasitic relationship. This enables them to spread around and take advantage of new habitats, and explains their wide range.

However, not much is known of pseudoscorpions due to their small size meaning they are easily overlooked and under recorded.



All photos are my own.

For more information/ references, please see:

Pseudoscorpions - Bug Directory - Buglife

Pseudoscorpion Recorders Group | British Arachnological Society (britishspiders.org.uk)

Explainer: what is a pseudoscorpion? (theconversation.com)

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