Pseudoscorpioni

Pseudoscorpioni, commonly called pseudoscorpions or false scorpions, are an order of tiny arachnids found worldwide. They typically measure 2 to 8 millimeters in length. Their body is flattened and pear-shaped, with a short cephalothorax, a broad abdomen, and eight legs. The most distinctive feature is their large pedipalps, which resemble scorpion pincers and often bear venom glands. Many species are blind or have only simple eyes, and coloration is usually pale to reddish.

They inhabit leaf litter, under bark, in soil, caves, and other hidden microhabitats; they also frequently enter human dwellings, including books, clothing, and crevices in buildings. Their small size and cryptic lifestyle make them common but inconspicuous components of many ecosystems.

Biology and behavior: pseudoscorpions are predators, feeding on tiny arthropods such as mites, springtails, and insect larvae. They subdue prey with their pincerlike pedipalps and inject venom. They do not pose a threat to humans and bites are extremely rare and typically harmless.

Reproduction and development: mating involves courtship during which a male deposits a spermatophore on the substrate; the female takes up the spermatophore to fertilize her eggs. Eggs hatch into protonymphs, followed by deutonymphs and tritonymphs, with several molts before reaching adulthood. Juveniles resemble small adults.

Ecology and significance: pseudoscorpions play a role as natural predators in soils, leaf litter, and stored-product environments. They can disperse through phoresy, attaching to larger insects to move to new habitats. The name derives from their superficially scorpion-like pedipalps, despite lacking a long tail or stinging apparatus.