Image Credit: Sean M. from Carrot River, Saskatchewan
Incredibly tiny Pseudoscorpions are harmless hitchhikers that usually go unnoticed.
Although they look like really small scorpions, Pseudoscorpions lack a tail or stinger. They have venom glands in their claws meant to kill tiny mites and springtails. They are so small, however, they pose no threat to humans and would require a magnifying glass in order to get a really good look at them. Because they do not have wings, traveling long distances can be difficult. Their minute stature allows them to catch free rides on oblivious larger insects, like beetles and even flies. Some species are blind, but even those with sight are not able to see well. They use their claws like antennae, feeling and touching their surroundings to find their way around.
Pseudoscorpions can make their own silk, but they do not spin webs or use it to catch prey like a spider would. Instead, they build cocoons to shelter in during cold winters. Look for them in a variety of places: between book pages, at the water's edge, in caves, woods, under rocks, and maybe even in a house (bathroom, laundry room, etc.).
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Arachnida
Order:Pseudoscorpioninda
Family:
Genus:
Species:
Identifying Information
Scientific Name:
Category:
Pseudoscorpion
Size (Adult; Length): 3mm to 5mm (0.12in to 0.20in)
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.
Colors: brown
