Bug Identifier
Pseudoscorpion
Community identification

Pseudoscorpion

Chelifer cancroides (common example)

Order & Family
Order: Pseudoscorpiones; Family: various (e.g., Cheliferidae)
Size
2 to 8 millimeters (0.08 to 0.31 inches)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.