Fun Pseudoscorpion Facts For Kids
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Pseudoscorpion (Pseudoscorpionida) is an arachnid that belongs to the family pseudoscorpiones. This species is also known by the name of book scorpions and false scorpions.
These animals are very small in size and are very common in most environments. Pseudoscorpions have eight legs and two very long pedipalps. While these arachnids resemble true scorpions in terms of appearance, especially with their pincers, they are harmless to humans as there have never been any reported incidents of a pseudoscorpion bite.
There are many sub-species of pseudoscorpions that are named after pseudoscorpion locations such as house pseudoscorpion, tooth cave pseudoscorpion and empire cave pseudoscorpion. Pseudoscorpion venom is used by these arachnids to kill larvae or insects they prey on.
Pseudoscorpions are creatures that have bodies that are flat and shaped like a pear. They also have pedipalps that are like pincers and resemble those belonging to scorpions.
The abdomen of pseudoscorpions is made up of twelve segments which are referred to as opisthosoma. These small arachnids have either have two, four or no eyes. The only control technique required for these creatures is physical removal.
After reading these interesting facts about the pseudoscorpion bug, do read our other articles on scorpion and brown widow.
Pseudoscorpion Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a pseudoscorpion?
Pseudoscorpions are tiny arachnids and are not easily noticeable with the naked eye. Pseudoscorpions are related to scorpions, mites, ticks, and spiders. They have eight legs, two pincers and like to live on tree bark.
What class of animal does a pseudoscorpion belong to?
Pseudoscorpion spider belongs to the class arachnid. The arachnids are a class of joint-legged invertebrate animals.
How many pseudoscorpions are there in the world?
There is no accurate number so as to how many pseudoscorpions are there in the world as the numbers keep changing depending on various factors. There are around more than 3,300 pseudoscorpion species and therefore the total number of pseudoscorpions keeps changing.
Where does a pseudoscorpion live?
Pseudoscorpions live in various habitats, and they are found in many different cracks and crevices. They also like spaces that are high in humidity like moss, tree stumps and tree bark. They are also found in bird nests.
What is a pseudoscorpion's habitat?
Pseudoscorpion’s habitat consists of spaces that are high in moisture. They can be found in marshy lands, sand dunes and decaying material.
Who do pseudoscorpions live with?
Giant pseudoscorpions usually live in a community and hunt in groups, and live secretly under the tree bark. They play an important role in keeping the population of insects in check. Therefore, they usually do not live alone and prefer to stay in a community and hunt together.
How long does a pseudoscorpion live?
The lifespan of a pseudoscorpion is two to three years, and there are chances that they might die based on different factors that determine the lifespan of these animals.
How do they reproduce?
The reproduction process of pseudoscorpions is different when compared to other species of insects. The male pseudoscorpions deposit a package of sperm known as spermatophore on the ground and then the female picks it up and inserts the sperm into her reproductive opening.
The males have many methods which help them in ensuring that the female finds the sperm and also uses it properly without any issue. The average litter size comprises 20 to 40 eggs.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of pseudoscorpions is Not Extinct as there are many pseudoscorpion species that are spread around the globe. Therefore, the number of pseudoscorpions keeps changing.
Pseudoscorpion Fun Facts
What do pseudoscorpions look like?
Pseudoscorpions are also known as arachnids, and are creatures that are related to spiders, ticks, mites, and scorpions as well. They have bodies that are flattened and are in the shape of an oval or teardrop with two conspicuous pedipalps. This species is very small and difficult to see with the naked eye, they are also very lightweight.
How cute are they?
Pseudoscorpions are cute as they are very tiny in size, they are cute and adorable when compared to the other species.
How do they communicate?
There is no accurate answer to how pseudoscorpions communicate with each other.
How big is a pseudoscorpion?
Pseudoscorpions are not at all big in size. They are very tiny creatures that are barely noticeable by human beings. The average size of a pseudoscorpion is 0.08-0.31 in (0.2-0.7 cm). Although the largest pseudoscorpion species, known as Garypus titanius, can measure around 0.5 in (1.2 cm).
How fast can a pseudoscorpion move?
Pseudoscorpions move fast, but there is no specific data as to how fast a pseudoscorpion can move. But, they can move fast as they can move forward and backwards according to their body.
They usually move fast when they see something that might be dangerous or threatening for them. Therefore, there is no accurate speed of how fast a pseudoscorpion can move.
How much does a pseudoscorpion weigh?
Pseudoscorpions are very light in weight. They hardly weigh 0.005 lb (0.002 kg). Since these animals are so tiny, and barely weigh anything, you could carry one around with you and not know the difference.
What are the male and female names of the species?
There is no specific name for the male and the female species of pseudoscorpions.
What would you call a baby pseudoscorpion?
There is no specific name for a baby pseudoscorpion.
What do they eat?
Pseudoscorpion diet comprises of different types of insects that are small in size such as booklice, springtails, psocids, thrips, small beetle larvae, flies, ants, and mites. They also eat arthropods, as they are one of the important parts of their diet.
Are they dangerous?
No, pseudoscorpions are not at all dangerous and are harmless to humans and pets. They do not have the ability to bite or sting any person, or their pet.
They have a gland that is poisonous, but that is used only for feeding, which does not harm humans or their pets. Instead, they are beneficial for humans as they prey on moth larvae and other types of annoying insects.
They are also not regarded as pests, rather pseudoscorpions feed on a large number of pests that can infest human homes. By eliminating these pests such as termites, flies, and ants, they are beneficial for humans.
Would they make a good pet?
Yes, they make good pets as they are not at all harmful to humans and pets. They are beneficial for human beings and help them in protecting their house. Their favorite food are booklice, flies and mites along with various other pest species.
Did you know...
Pseudoscorpions reach a length that ranges between 0.08-0.31 in (0.2-0.7 cm) long. Pseudoscorpions look like scorpions but do not have long tails and a stinger.
They do not have wings and can easily travel from one location to another as they are attached to the fur and skin of different animals. Pseudoscorpions have the ability to use digestive juices which enable them to transform their prey into a liquid meal.
Pseudoscorpions name is found in the books of the Greek philosopher Aristotle, that were written more than 2,300 years ago. Pseudoscorpions do not have internal fertilization.
The males are known to dance in order to attract the female to the spermatophores, and the ritual of dancing lasts from ten minutes to even an hour sometimes. Some of the females can also reproduce asexually without the help of the males.
How do pseudoscorpions differ from true scorpions?
The main difference between a pseudoscorpion and a scorpion is that scorpions have a stinger that is curved. This is not present in pseudoscorpions. Pseudoscorpions do not sting, whereas scorpions sting, and may injure you very badly.
Is a pseudoscorpion a tick?
Yes, pseudoscorpions are ticks that can be pale yellow, brownish-green, dark brown, or black colored. The type of bodies that tick and pseudoscorpions have is the same.
What to do if you get bitten by a pseudoscorpion?
Pseudoscorpions do not bite, and they don't sting either. Since they do not bite, then there is no need to go to the hospital. They do not even sting humans and pets. They are not at all destructive to food, clothes, or any type of property.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods including wolf spider, or Mexican red-knee tarantula.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our Pseudoscorpion coloring pages.
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Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudoscorpion
https://www.britannica.com/animal/false-scorpion
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/pseudoscorpions
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