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Chelifer cancroides L.
House Pseudoscorpion
Family: Cheliferidae


Photograph

© Bryan Kelly-McArthur     (Photo ID #78224)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Chelifer cancroides in British Columbia in British Columbia

Introduction


The House Pseudoscorpion is a large cosmopolitan species that is frequently observed in houses (Levi 1948). Jacobs (2010) provides the following description: "The house pseudoscorpion adult is 3 to 4 millimeters in length and has a rich mahogany color. Its four pairs of legs increase sequentially in length. It has one eye on each side of its cephalothorax (head plus thorax) and a 12-segment abdomen (only ten are easily visible). Overall, the body resembles a teardrop. The pedipalps, located in front of the first pair of legs, are more than twice as long as the legs. When extended, crab-like, they measure 7 to 9 millimeters across."

Read about Pseudoscorpions in Canada.

A photographic key to the Pseudoscorpions of Canada and the Adjacent US, prepared by Christopher Buddle, is available.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)
COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Parachelifer muricatus (Say, 1821)

General References