Pseudoscorpion

tiny creatures · arachnids · hidden hunters

Scorpion imposters. Pseudoscorpions look like scorpions but are much, much smaller, usually only the size of a sesame seed. Unlike real scorpions, they have no tail and no stinger.

Book lovers. These creatures earned the nickname "book scorpions" because people often find them living in old books and libraries. They hunt the tiny insects and mites that feed on paper and bindings.

Invisible hunters. Pseudoscorpions are so small that most people never notice them, even though they live all around us in homes, gardens, and forests. You need a magnifying glass to see them clearly.

Pinchers, no stinger. They grab their prey with two big pincers called chelicerae, just like real scorpions do. They use these pincers to hold and eat tiny bugs instead of using venom like true scorpions.

Found everywhere. Pseudoscorpions live on every continent except Antarctica, making them one of the most successful small predators on Earth.