Erk scorpions in the uk ?

Not really - found my first pseudoscorpion of the year- a massive 1.5mm body length. Comes with a story- I've been looking for these without success but yesterday saw a bug in distress in a pool of rainwater on my compost bin lid- did my normal thing of rescuing it and found it was a pair of mating compost flies (Scatopse sp.) with a pseudoscorpion attached to the legs of one of them. Wasn't in a position to photograph them so I trapped the trio under a glass with some cardboard. Got the camera ready but the flies proceeded to charge around inside the glass never stopping. So I tried the bee keepers trick of blowing some smoke into the glass to calm them down. The mating pair promptly detached themselves and the pseudoscorpion detached itslf from the fly. I released the flies but managed some shots of the pseudoscorpion. Last shot is one from last year with exactly the same starting position- mating compost flies with a pseudoscorpion attached. Wonder what the attraction is to mating flies ?

Brian V.

Click on Pics for larger size

IMAGE LINK: http://farm2.static.fl​ickr.com …68755833_e5e2c3​9873_o.jpg

IMAGE LINK: http://farm2.static.fl​ickr.com …68755829_f945f7​b539_o.jpg

IMAGE LINK: http://farm1.static.fl​ickr.com/80/251625153_​cae6e904f7_o.jpg

Those are quite amazing - i`ll have to start making some compost.

Action_Man wrote in post #4048085
Those are quite amazing - i`ll have to start making some compost.

Thanks Gordon
I've been told you can find them by sieving damp leaf litter - just easier to spot them when they are attached to something larger
Brian V.

Nice story and great shots Brian.

You have to wonder if the pseudoscorpion's breeding cycle is tied up with the compost flies. Perhaps it need to inject it's eggs into the fly's egg and so latches on to a breeding female until she has laid her eggs.

That's the only logical explanation I can come up with.

Ive been looking for these for years. never seen any. cool shots!

Thanks bernie and Lance

Bernie - I think the explanation is more simple- at this time of year the pseudoscorpions start looking for new places to overwinter and hitch lifts on passing flies. Did wonder if they know that compost flies don't lay their eggs in the same place they hatch (I just made that up BTW) so hitching a lift on at least a female would guarantee a lift to pastures new
Should be getting the mites hitching lifts next if it's the same as last year

Brian V.

LordV wrote in post #4048315
Thanks bernie and Lance

Bernie - I think the explanation is more simple- at this time of year the pseudoscorpions start looking for new places to overwinter and hitch lifts on passing flies. Did wonder if they know that compost flies don't lay their eggs in the same place they hatch (I just made that up BTW) so hitching a lift on at least a female would guarantee a lift to pastures new
Should be getting the mites hitching lifts next if it's the same as last year

Brian V.

Haha even if you did make that up MAN THOSE R SMART ARTHROPODS!

great find

looks a dangerous adversary for a springtail but clearly just hitching a ride on these flies. Fab detail.

That's awesome! What a cute little "scorpion"...

I've never seen one of these. Great shots, as usual!

Thanks for the comments MJ, Toby and Deltroid
Brian V.

Nice shots.Very interesting little critter - something I've never seen around here.

The last shot really puts things in to perspective. WOW !!! Talk about tiny! Fantastic work Brian.

Hatch

That's an amazing find/series of images Brian. Your comment about the pseudo scorpion and mating flies made me laugh, although in all seriousness could it be to do with pheromones being emitted by the mating flies?

Dave

Great series. Just an interesting little find there and great detail!