Pseudoscorpion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pseudoscorpions (false scorpions)Temporal range: Devonian 380 mya
to Recent |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Subclass: |
Dromopoda
|
| Order: |
Pseudoscorpionida
Haeckel, 1866
|
A pseudoscorpion (or book scorpion) is an arachnid. They can be 2 to 8 millimetres (0.079 to 0.315 in) long. The largest known species is Garypus titanius of Ascension Island at 12 millimetres (0.47 in).
Pseudoscorpions eat clothes moth larvae, carpet beetle larvae, booklice, ants, mites, and small flies. Because of this, they are liked by humans. The pseudoscorpions are small and cannot harm humans. They are rarely seen because of their size. Some species of pseudoscorpions do a "mating dance" to attract mates. The eggs will stay with the mother until the pseudoscorpions are about a month old. There are more than 3,300 species of pseudoscorpions recorded. The oldest known fossil of pseudoscorpions dates back 380 million years to the Devonian period.
- Harvey M.S. 2011. Pseudoscorpions of the World, version 2.0. Western Australian Museum, Perth. Pseudoscorpions of the World
- Joseph C. Chamberlin 1931. The Arachnid Order Chelonethida. Stanford University Publications in Biological Science. 7(1): 1–284.
- W.B. Muchmore 1982. Pseudoscorpionida. In Synopsis and classification of living organisms. Vol 2, Parker, S.P.
Images for kids
-
A pseudoscorpion from the United States
-
Phoretic pseudoscorpion on a fly, Germany
-
A coloured etching of a pseudoscorpion
See also
In Spanish: Pseudoescorpiones para niños
