Chelifer cancroides
| Chelifer cancroides | |
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| Chelifer cancroides | |
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| Species: | C. cancroides
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| Chelifer cancroides | |
Chelifer cancroides, the house pseudoscorpion, is a species of pseudoscorpions. It is a cosmopolitan, synanthropic, and harmless species to humans.[1]
Subspecies
There are two subspecies:[2]
- Chelifer cancroides cancroides (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Chelifer cancroides orientalis (Morikawa, 1954)
Description
Chelifer cancroides measure 2.5–4.5 mm (0.098–0.177 in) in length. The pedipalps are very long,[3] measuring 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) when extended. The body is teardrop-shaped and has a rich mahogany color. The abdomen has 12 segments, only 10 of which are easily visible. The cephalothorax has one pair of eyes.[1]
Reproduction
Males maintain small mating territories, few centimeters in size. When a female enters the territory, the male initiates a mating dance and eventually deposits a spermatophore, which is then picked up by the females. Fecundity is 20–40 eggs. The development from egg stage into maturity takes 10 to 24 months and involves three molts;[1] molting may involve building a silk nest.[3] The total life span is 3–4 years.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Jacobs, Steve. "Pseudoscorpions". Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Department of Entomology. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "Chelifer cancroides". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ a b Levi, Herbert W. (1948). "Notes on the life history of the pseudoscorpion Chelifer cancroides (Linn.) (Chelonethida)". Transactions of the American Microscopical Society. 67 (3): 290–298. doi:10.2307/3223197. JSTOR 3223197.