Pseudoscorpion on Monitor
December 31, 2009
Dear Bugman,
I thought you might enjoy this pseudoscorpion as much as I did. I usually have one or two of them in the bathroom, but this is the first time that one showed up on the computer monitor.
These critters certainly look creepy, but ever since I read up on them after discovering the first one in said bathroom, I do enjoy them a lot. They’re busy little things, always moving around with such industrious determination that I diligently avoid treating them with the derisive contempt I employ for the ever-present cluster flies. It’d be like insulting a German housewife – simply unacceptable! 
Iratwo
Northern Minnesota
Pseudoscorpion
Dear Iratwo,
Thanks for sending us your great photo of a harmless Pseudoscorpion. We are also joyed to hear about your tolerance in the home.
¶ Posted 31 December 2009 § ‡ ° Strange, tiny solifugid(?) found under UST.
December 7, 2009
I work for an environmental company, decommissioning underground tanks.
I was in Detroit, Oregon taking soil samples and overseeing the private decom of a heating oil tank when I found this guy. He was about 7 feet underground, in an erosion void under the tank. The tank had fortunately not leaked, so he is quite alive. I think he is some kind of solifugid, although I couldn’t see any chelicera, and his forelegs end in pincers instead of adhesive pads. The blue object on which he rests is my gloved finger, making him less than a centimeter in length. I found him in early winter, so I assume he was hibernating so deep underground. I apologize for the fuzzy pictures, he was a very active little guy when he woke up.
Devin White
Detroit OR, elev.1,590 ft // 7ft deep in loose rocky soil
Pseudoscorpion
Hi Devin,
This is actually a Pseudoscorpion, but it doesn’t look typically like most Pseudoscorpions that are sent to us. We found a matching specimen on BugGuide from Illinois, but the species is not identified. Pseudoscorpions lack venom and they are harmless, beneficial predators.
Pseudoscorpion
¶ Posted 08 December 2009 § ‡ ° small tick-like insect with pinchers
October 21, 2009
I found it on my bedroom wall on 10/21/09.
Lori
Central Massachusetts
Pseudoscorpion
Hi Lori,
Pseudoscorpions are harmless predators that are found worldwide. Because of their small size, they are rarely noticed except whey they are discovered inside homes.
¶ Posted 22 October 2009 § ‡ ° Can you dentify this bug?
July 10, 2009
Can you dentify this bug?
Found in Bend, Oregon near kitchen window inside:(
I first thought it was a tick, but it has pinchers, and walks backward like a crab. It is dark reddish-brown with no spots or other markings(see photo). Can you help us identify it, and should we be concerned that it was in our house? Thanks,
Marc Mauch
Bend, Oregun USA
Pseudoscorpion
Hi Mark,
The harmless predatory Pseudoscorpion is often mistaken for a tick. There are numerous species and they are found throughout the world.
¶ Posted 12 July 2009 § ‡ ° Arachnid, stingerless scorpion???
Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 3:17 PM
found this creature on my kitchen counter. about 1/8 in. long and 1/16-1/8 in wide, a very tiny thing. this is the second one that we have EVER laid our eyes on. pictures are attached.
c_seiber
East Tennesse Region
Pseudoscorpion
Dear c_seiber,
This is a harmless Pseudoscorpion. Various species are found nearly worldwide, and they are often encountered in peoples homes where they do their best to dispatch unwanted insect and arthropod visitors.
¶ Posted 22 April 2009 § ‡ ° Small Bug with 2 long arms like lobster pinchers
Sat, Mar 21, 2009 at 5:07 AM
I found this bug twice in our bathroom and this morning in our kitchen. I was reading the paper and it might have crawled off my t shirt. Unable to identify it.
Doug
Flushing, MI
Pseudoscorpion
Dear Doug,
This is a harmless Pseudoscorpion, a minute predator often found indoors. We get countless identification requests from around the world on Pseudoscorpions, and we should probably include it in the Top Ten Tag. Though your photo is not the most detailed we have ever received, we love the inclusion of the ruler in the photo so our readership can see just how tiny this amazing predators really are.
¶ Posted 22 March 2009 § ‡ ° Tagged: Top 10 Mandible (Non-Insect)?
Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Found 11/22/08, Central Indiana (Lebanon,IN) ,USA, In bathroom sink, Early winter. Exterior Temperature 30 degrees F.
Ruler shown is in mm.
Reece, the Scorpion King
Central Indiana, USA
Pseudoscorpion
Hi Reece,
This is a harmless Pseudoscorpion. They are often found in homes and they have a nearly worldwide distribution.
¶ Posted 23 November 2008 § ‡ ° cerambycid with pseudoscorpion attached
Hey Bugman!
Thought I’d send a couple of pics I think are interesting. I took some photos of what I think is a species of cerambycid that has a pseudoscorpion attached to it. Thought you might want to see them. Oh, and I always forget to add this, I took these in Fort Gordon, Georgia about 2 weeks ago.
Stefan Bowers
hi Stefan,
We wish we could tell you exactly what species of Wood Boring Cerambycid you have in your photo. We will seek the assistance of Eric Eaton. We can tell you that the Pseudoscorpion is hitching a ride with the flying Cerambycid, a technique known as Phoresy.
Update: (06/12/2008)
Hi, Daniel:
Welcome back! Coincidentally, I just visited the site today, after ignoring it while you were away. LOL! Hope you had fun in Ohio. I miss the lush vegetation out there…. The cerambycid is probably the “spined oak borer,” Elaphidion mucronatum, named for the pair of spines at the tip of each wing cover. Cerambycids in general seem to be favorite modes of transport for pseudoscorpions.
Eric
Confirmation: With Different Common Name(6/12/2008)
Hello Daniel
The long horn in question looks like the “Spined Bark Borer” Elaphidion mucronatum due to the long femoral spines which sorts it out from Parelaphidion spp. and a longer spine on the 3rd antennal segment. Hard to tell for sure due to angle of the photo. Seems to be to robust to be an Anelaphus spp. I hope this helps. Keep up the good work as always.
Brian Sullivan
¶ Posted 07 June 2008 § ‡ ° 
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