Pseudoscorpions are unfamiliar to most people, and incorporate a strange collection of features from spiders, scorpions, and insects. They are in their own order, Pseudoscorpiones, in the class Arachnida, which places them at the same level taxonomically as spiders. They can, in fact, spin some thread and hide out in cocoons. They're easily distinguished from true scorpions by their lack of a segmented tail and stinger. They breathe through spiracles - holes behind the eyes - a trait they share with insects. There are over 4,000 species found worldwide, and they are very difficult to identify below the order level. They've been around for at least 380 million years.
They are probably quite common, but easily overlooked due to their tiny size. Like most spiders, they should be considered a "beneficial" species, as they prey upon tiny creatures not generally welcomed in buildings and homes.
There are 7 records in the project database.
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