Arachnid · GBIF taxon 5167813
House Pseudoscorpion
Chelifer cancroidesAlso known as Book Scorpion
House pseudoscorpions are tiny, flattened arachnids equipped with dramatic pincers that resemble mini scorpion claws, though they completely lack a tail and sting. These secretive indoor predators wander through bookshelves, dusty corners, and old paper files in search of carpet beetle larvae, dust mites, and booklice. They occasionally hitch rides on the legs of houseflies and beetles to transport themselves to new habitats, a hitchhiking behavior known as phoresy.
ArachnidBeneficialTiny
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Dust Mites
- Booklice
- Carpet Beetle Larvae
Predators
- Spiders
- Centipedes
- Ants
ThreatsHousehold insecticides, extreme dry indoor conditions
HabitatsHomes, libraries, dry stone walls, bird nests, leaf litter
Life span3–4 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPseudoscorpiones
- FamilyCheliferidae
- GenusChelifer
- SpeciesChelifer cancroides
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Search Dark Corners: Use a flashlight to inspect dusty bookshelves, baseboards, or old cardboard boxes.
- Preserve as Pest Control: Leave these harmless arachnids undisturbed to help control indoor insect pests naturally.
- Relocate Carefully: Use a soft card or paper to lift them gently if they need moving.
Prey (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas · cc-by
Image unavailablePrey Close Relative
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