Pseudoscorpion
Scientific Name: Chelifer cancroides (common example)
Order & Family: Order: Pseudoscorpiones; Family: various (e.g., Cheliferidae)
Size: 2 to 8 millimeters (0.08 to 0.31 inches)
Natural Habitat
Found in leaf litter, under bark, in soil, and occasionally indoors in bathrooms, kitchens, or libraries (the "book scorpion").
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; they eat tiny arthropods such as mites, springtails, booklice, and small fly larvae.
Behavior Patterns
They are solitary hunters that use their large pedipalps to capture prey. Some species hitch rides on larger insects to move to new locations, a behavior known as phoresy.
Risks & Benefits
They are harmless to humans and pets as they lack a stinging tail. They are highly beneficial because they provide natural pest control for silverfish, mites, and booklice.
Identified on: 4/26/2026