Chelifer cancroides

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Chelifer cancroides
Chelifer cancroides 8604300.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Pseudoscorpiones
Family: Cheliferidae
Genus: Chelifer
Geoffroy, 1762
Species:
C. cancroides
Binomial name
Chelifer cancroides
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Chelifer cancroides, the house pseudoscorpion, is a species of pseudoscorpion. It is the most widely distributed species of pseudoscorpion in the world, it occurs in a range of habitats, but it is mostly synanthropic and harmless to humans. [1]

Contents

Description

Chelifer cancroides measure 2.5–4.5 mm (0.098–0.177 in) in length. The pedipalps are very long, [2] 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]

This species can be distinguished from other Cheliferidae by a number of features. The carapace has large setose tubercles. In males, the carapace and tergites I-VII or I-VIII have distinct lateral keels. The cheliceral hand has 4 setae, lacking seta sbs. The tarsal claws of adults have a lateroventral process, except for those on the first leg pair of adult males. Additionally, the subterminal tarsal setae are denticulate. In males, coxa IV is strongly arcuate, has a large lateral process, and has a coxal sac lacking a differentiated atrium. The male genitalia have rams horn organs and an anteriorly invaginated lateral rod forming a median depression, in which lies a sclerotic rod. The female genitalia have paired spermathecae and paired median cribriform plates. [3]

Taxonomy

Chelifer cancroides was one of the two pseudoscorpion species described by Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Both Species were assigned to the mite genus Acarus , then transferred to Phalangium by Linnaeus in 1767 and to Scorpio in 1775 by Fabricius. The genus Chelifer was described anonymously in 1762 to accommodate C. cancroides and has remained valid since. [4] Since the genus was described over 300 species-group names have been described and all except C. cancroides have been moved to other genera or synonymized with C. cancroides. [3] The genus is currently monotypic, although it contains fourteen species originally described in Chelifer that are considered nomina dubia and eleven other species considered nomina nuda. [5]

Diet

C. cancroides eating a Dermanyssus gallinae mite CheliferRVM.jpg
C. cancroides eating a Dermanyssus gallinae mite

Chelifer cancroides feeds on small arthropods such as psocids, fruit flies and mites such as Varroa . [6]

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. [2] They usually live three or four years. [1]

Distribution

Chelifer cancroides has been observed in North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. [7]

Habitat

Chelifer cancroides has been found under bark of trees, in caves, in bird nests and bee nests, and riding on bats, flies and hymenopterans. [8] It also occurs in human structures such as houses, stables, barns, chicken coops and bee hives. [3]

Venom

Like some other pseudoscorpions, C. cancroides has venomous pedipalps used for subduing prey. This venom contains various peptides and is toxic to bacteria (e.g. methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), fungi, arthropods (e.g. aphids and Varroa mites) and mammalian cells. [6] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelicerata</span> Subphylum of arthropods

The subphylum Chelicerata constitutes one of the major subdivisions of the phylum Arthropoda. Chelicerates include the sea spiders, horseshoe crabs, and arachnids, as well as a number of extinct lineages, such as the eurypterids and chasmataspidids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arachnid</span> Class of arthropods

Arachnida is a class of joint-legged arthropods, in the subphylum Chelicerata. Arachnida includes, among others, spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, camel spiders, whip spiders and vinegaroons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pseudoscorpion</span> Order of arachnids

Pseudoscorpions, also known as false scorpions or book scorpions, are small, scorpion-like arachnids belonging to the order Pseudoscorpiones, also known as Pseudoscorpionida or Chelonethida.

<i>Varroa destructor</i> Species of mite

Varroa destructor, the Varroa mite, is an external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on honey bees and is one of the most damaging honey bee pests in the world. A significant mite infestation leads to the death of a honey bee colony, usually in the late autumn through early spring. Without management for Varroa mite, honey bee colonies typically collapse within 2 to 3 years in temperate climates. These mites can infest Apis mellifera, the western honey bee, and Apis cerana, the Asian honey bee. Due to very similar physical characteristics, this species was thought to be the closely related Varroa jacobsoni prior to 2000, but they were found to be two separate species after DNA analysis.

<i>Heteropoda venatoria</i> Species of spider

Heteropoda venatoria is a species of spider in the family Sparassidae, the huntsman spiders. It is native to the tropical regions of the world, and it is present in some subtropical areas as an introduced species. Its common names include giant crab spider, pantropical huntsman spider or cane spider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ogoveidae</span> Family of harvestmen/daddy longlegs

Ogoveidae is a family of harvestmen with three described species in one genus, Ogovea, which is found in equatorial West Africa.

<i>Psalmopoeus irminia</i> Species of spider

Psalmopoeus irminia, also known as the Venezuelan suntiger, is a species of tarantula endemic to Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil. They were first described in 1994 by F. Saager.

<i>Parasitellus</i> Genus of mites

Parasitellus is a genus of mites in the family Parasitidae which are obligatory parasites of bumblebees. These mites can be found clinging to the carapace, sometimes in large numbers. Mites in this genus hibernate in the deutonymphal stage. In the tritonymph stage they can actively transfer from bumblebee to bumblebee from flowers, where they can survive up to 24 hours. After they arrive in a bumblebee nest, they will moult into adults. Whilst it is not known what factors trigger the mite to molt, in laboratory conditions P. fucorum were found to moult after eating fresh pollen, although overall moulting success was low. They are kleptoparasitic or neutral to beneficial, depending on life stage; females and deutonymphs feed on provisioned pollen, while other stages are predators of small arthropods.

This glossary describes the terms used in formal descriptions of spiders; where applicable these terms are used in describing other arachnids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheliferidae</span> Family of pseudoscorpions

Cheliferidae is a family of pseudoscorpions in the order Pseudoscorpiones, first described by Antoine Risso in 1827.

<i>Glycyphagus</i> Genus of mites

Glycyphagus is a genus of astigs in the family Glycyphagidae.

<i>Hemiscorpius lepturus</i> Species of scorpion

Hemiscorpius lepturus is a species of scorpion in the family Hemiscorpiidae. It is found in deserts of the Middle East, especially in southern Iraq and Iran, where it is sometimes referred to as the "Gadim scorpion".These scorpions have long, thin tails and wide bodies and grow to 8 cm (3.1 in) in males and 5.5 cm (2.2 in) in females, allowing them to live in tight rock crevices. They are fairly solitary creatures. H. lepturus has mainly been studied to discover the components and effects of its venom, which is highly lethal and is responsible for most deaths due to scorpion sting in the Iran area. H. lepturus is the only scorpion not in the family Buthidae that is potentially lethal to humans; the Buthidae family is the largest and most abundant family of scorpions, containing many highly venomous species.

Anysrius brochus is a species of pseudoscorpion in the Hyidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1998 by Australian arachnologist Mark Harvey. The specific epithet brochus refers to the cheliceral teeth of the male.

Ideoblothrus descartes is a species of pseudoscorpion in the Syarinidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1991 by Australian arachnologists Mark Harvey and Karen Edward. The specific epithet descartes refers to the type locality.

Ideoblothrus linnaei is a species of pseudoscorpion in the Syarinidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1991 by Australian arachnologists Mark Harvey and Mei Chen Leng. The specific epithet linnaei honours Swedish taxonomist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), to mark the 250th anniversary of the publication of the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae.

Anatemnus wongalara is a species of pseudoscorpion in the Atemnidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2021 by Australian arachnologists Mark Harvey and Karen Cullen. The specific epithet wongalara ('common') refers to the type locality.

Austinochernes zigzag is a species of pseudoscorpion in the Chernetidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2021 by Australian arachnologist Mark Harvey. The specific epithet zigzag refers to the type locality.

Austrochernes dewae is a species of pseudoscorpion in the Chernetidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1967 by Austrian arachnologist Max Beier.

Austrochernes imitans is a species of pseudoscorpion in the Chernetidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1969 by Austrian arachnologist Max Beier.

Linnaeolpium is a monotypic genus of pseudoscorpions in the Olpiidae family. It was described in 2008 by Australian arachnologists Mark Harvey and Mei Chen Leng. The genus name Linnaeolpium honours Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778), founder of modern taxonomy, in combination with the generic name Olpium.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jacobs, Steve. "Pseudoscorpions". Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Department of Entomology. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 3 Harvey, Mark S. (2014). "A review and redescription of the cosmopolitan pseudoscorpion Chelifer cancroides (Pseudoscorpiones: Cheliferidae)". Journal of Arachnology. 42 (1): 86–104. doi:10.1636/K13-57.1. ISSN   0161-8202. S2CID   86777132.
  4. Geoffroy, É. L. (1762). Histoire abregée des insectes qui se trouvent aux environs de Paris; dans laquelle ces animaux sont rangés suivant un ordre méthodique. Vol. 2. Paris: Durand.
  5. "Chelifer Geoffroy, 1762". World Pseudoscorpiones Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  6. 1 2 Krämer, Jonas; Peigneur, Steve; Tytgat, Jan; Jenner, Ronald A.; van Toor, Ronald; Predel, Reinhard (2021). "A Pseudoscorpion's Promising Pinch: The venom of Chelifer cancroides contains a rich source of novel compounds". Toxicon. 201: 92–104. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.08.012. hdl: 10141/622981 . PMID   34416254.
  7. "Chelifer cancroides (Linnaeus, 1758)". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  8. Hernández-Corral, Jesús; Zaragoza, Juan A.; Micó, Estefanía (2018-10-08). "New species of Pseudoscorpiones (Arachnida) from tree hollows in a Mediterranean oak forest in Spain". Zootaxa. 4497 (2): 201–225. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4497.2.3. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   30313674. S2CID   52977326.
  9. Krämer, Jonas; Lüddecke, Tim; Marner, Michael; Maiworm, Elena; Eichberg, Johanna; Hardes, Kornelia; Schäberle, Till F.; Vilcinskas, Andreas; Predel, Reinhard (2022-01-14). "Antimicrobial, Insecticidal and Cytotoxic Activity of Linear Venom Peptides from the Pseudoscorpion Chelifer cancroides". Toxins. 14 (1): 58. doi: 10.3390/toxins14010058 . ISSN   2072-6651. PMC   8778599 . PMID   35051034.