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You Can Help

I am always on the lookout for more specimens. If you find pseudoscorpions, please consider sending them my way so I can use them in my research. If you have a pseudoscorpion you'd like to send to me, please contact me using the contact page. Below are some tips on where to find these fantastic creatures.

 

Pseudoscorpions can be found in many places, from deserts to sea shores, from mountain forests to city bath tubs. However, they are rarely seen by most people because pseudoscorpions prefer to dwell in tight spaces, away from the light. Some common ways to discover these secretive creatures include flipping stones, sifting leaf litter, peeling bark, catching insects, and searching in caves.

 

Flipping Stones - The soil beneath stones and rocks tends to be more humid than surrounding soil, and most pseudoscorpions prefer more humid environs. Therefore, you can find many species in more arid environments by flipping over rocks that are partially burried. When the rock is removed, be sure to check the underside of it because many pseudoscorpions like to hang upside down on the stony surface. You should also check the soil. Pseudoscorpions aren't easy to see if they are holding still. If a pseudoscorpion was under the rock, it will usually start seeking a new hiding place a minute or two after being uncovered. I usually collect them once they start moving.

 

Sifting Leaf Litter - Many pseudoscorpions can be found in leaf litter. Some prefer dry leaves, other prefer moist, decaying leaves. Either way, you can find pseudoscorpions in the leaf litter or duff by sifting the litter with a metal grate or mesh that will allow the pseudoscorpions to fall through but will keep the leaves from falling through. I use a screen mesh with about 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) squares. I place a generous amount of leaf litter above the mesh and shake it over a clear plastic tub. I then observe the small bits that fall through to see if there is a pseudoscorpion amongst the litter.

 

Peeling Bark - This is one of my least favorite methods for collecting pseudoscorpions because it is so destructive. Like many other arthropods, pseudoscorpions like to live in the interstices beneath the bark of dead or fallen trees. Peeling this bark back reveals a wonderful world of critters, including pseudoscorpions. Some pseudoscorpions also live beneath the loose bark of living trees. Unfortunately, most trees do not fare well if you remove all of the bark, so I try to avoid this method. I have found pseudoscorpions beneath mesquite trees using this method, but I'm not an expert yet on which pseudoscorpions can be found in which trees.

 

Catching Insects - Many pseudoscorpions use flying insects to travel greater distances. It is not unusual to find pseudoscorpions attached to the legs of beetles and flies or beneath the elytra (forewings) of beetles.

 

Searching in Caves - Because pseudoscorpions usuallly reside in dark places, it's no surprise that there are several species that are found in caves. Many of the cave pseudoscorpions are endemic to certain caves or cave systems, meaning you can only find those species in caves.

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