{"id":81,"date":"2013-03-08T18:09:48","date_gmt":"2013-03-08T18:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chelifer.com\/?page_id=81"},"modified":"2025-03-28T12:30:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T12:30:21","slug":"uk-species","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.chelifer.com\/?page_id=81","title":{"rendered":"UK Species"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Twenty-nine species have been recorded in Britain and Ireland, three of which are relatively new. They can occur in high numbers, dozens to hundreds per square metre, but despite this finding them can be challenging. Hand sorting (shake a small handful of leaf-litter onto a white tray) is the simplest way of finding them but it can take many attempts before one appears. Putting a few handfuls of the same litter in a Tullgren funnel will yield many times more specimens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 9000 records plot the current distribution of the British species of pseudoscorpion. The NBN Gateway<\/a> has further records. Originally the scheme was set up, administered and run by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks Wood [now Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, who employed P.E. Jones to work on the group. In 1980 he produced a Provisional Atlas of the distribution of pseudoscorpions. Around 1982 I took over as recorder and over a period of time data-based all the Monks Wood Records concurrent with starting up a recording scheme and adding new records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1988 the Linnean Society of London with the Estuarine and Brackish-Water Sciences Association published Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) No. 40, edited by Doris M. Kermack and R.S.K. Barnes: Pseudoscorpions. Written and technically illustrated by Gerald Legg it was also illustrated with superb pen and ink drawings of the then known British species by Richard E. Jones. Now out of print copies of this can be found on the internet. A revised edition is in the process of being written.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December 2016, the Field Studies Council published a new guide: Illustrated Key to the British False  Scorpions (Pseudoscorpions)<\/a>. This provides a means to identify all the known UK species, including the recently (2016) rediscovered Chthonius halberti<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distribution of Records of all species in the UK and Images of Species Very few species have been photographed to date. Those that have may be either of preserved specimens and\/or live ones.
If anyone has any images that they can provide to add to the image library, fully acknowledged of course, then please contact me.
Thank you.
Species distribution maps updated November 2009. My thanks to all those who have submitted records and specimens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check List of British and Irish Species<\/strong> (updated from Harvey 2013<\/a> [http:\/\/museum.wa.gov.au\/catalogues-beta\/browse ] and Zaragoza, J.A. (2017). Revision of the Ephippiochthonius complex in the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands and Macaronesia, with proposed changes to the status of the Chthonius subgenera (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae). Zootaxa 4246: 1-221<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Order PSEUDOSCORPIONES Latreille, 1825
\u00a0 Sub-order EPIOCHEIRATA Harvey, 1992
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Superfamily Chthonioidea Daday, 1889
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Family Chthoniidae Daday, 1889
\u00a0Genus Ephippiochthonius<\/em> Zaragoza, 2017
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 1.\u00a0Ephippiochthonius tetrachelatus<\/em> (Pressler, 1790); Dimpled-clawed\u00a0
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0chthoniid
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02. Ephippiochthonius kewi<\/em> Gabbutt, 1966; Kew\u2019s chthoniid\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0
\u00a0 Genus Chthonius<\/em> C. L. Koch, 1843
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 3. Chthonius (Chthonius) halberti<\/em> Kew, 1916; Halbert\u2019s chthonid\u00a0
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4. Chthonius (Chthonius) ischnocheles<\/em> (Hermann, 1804); Common
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 chthoniid
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 5. Chthonius (Chthonius) tenuis<\/em> L. Koch, 1873; Dark-clawed chthoniid
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 6. Chthonius (Chthonius) orthodactylus<\/em> (Leach, 1817) sensu stricto;
Straight-clawed chthoniid\u00a0
Sub-order IOCHEIRATA Harvey, 1992
\u00a0 Superfamily Neobisiodea Chamberlin, 1930
\u00a0 \u00a0Family Neobisiidae Chamberlin, 1930
\u00a0 \u00a0 Subfamily Neobisiinae \u00a0Chamberlin, 1930
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Genus Neobisium<\/em> Chamberlin, 1930
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a07. Neobisium (Neobisium) maritimum<\/em> (Leach, 1817); Shore neobisiid\u00a0 \u00a0
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a08. Neobisium (Neobisium) carpenteri<\/em> (Kew, 1910); Carpenter\u2019s neobisiid
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a09. Neobisium (Neobisium) carcinoides<\/em> (Herman, 1804); Moss neobisiid
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 10. Neobisium (Neobisium) simile<\/em> (L. Koch, 1873) Quarry neobisiid
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Genus Roncus L. Koch, 1873
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 11. \u00a0Roncus (Roncus) lubricus<\/em> L. Koch, 1873; Reddish two-eyed neobisiid
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Subfamily Microcreagrinae, Balzan 1892
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Genus Roncocreagris Mahnert, 1976
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a012.\u00a0Roncocreagris cambridgei<\/em> (L. Koch, 1873); Cambridge\u2019s two-eyed neobisiid
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Genus Microbisium<\/em> Chamberlin, 1930
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 13.\u00a0Microbisium brevifemoratum<\/em> (Ellingsen, 1903); Bog neobisiid\u00a0
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Superfamily Cheiridioidea Hansen, 1894
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Family Cheiridiidae Hansen, 1894
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Genus Cheiridium<\/em> Menge, 1855
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 14.\u00a0Cheiridium museorum<\/em> (Leach, 1817); Book chelifer
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Superfamily Cheliferoidea Risso, 1827
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Family Chernetidae Menge, 1855
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Subfamily Lamprochernetinae Beier, 1932
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Genus Lamprochernes<\/em> T\u00f6m\u00f6svary, 1892
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15. Lamprochernes savignyi<\/em> (Simon, 1881); Savigny\u2019s shining claw\u00a0
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 16.\u00a0Lamprochernes nodosus<\/em> (Schrank, 1803); Knotty shining claw\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 17. Lamprochernes chyzeri<\/em> (T\u00f6m\u00f6svary, 1882); Chyzer\u2019s shining claw
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Genus Pselaphochernes<\/em> Beier, 1932
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 18.\u00a0Pselaphochernes scorpioides<\/em> (Hermann, 1804; Compost chernes
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a019. Pselaphochernes dubius<\/em> (0. P.-Cambridge, 1892); Small chernes
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Genus Allochernes<\/em> Beier, 1932
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a020. Allochernes powelli<\/em> (Kew, 1916); Powell\u2019s chernes
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a021. Allochernes wideri<\/em> (C. L. Koch, 1873); Wider\u2019s tree chernes
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Subfamily Chernetinae Beier, 1932
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Genus Dinocheirus<\/em> Chamberlin, 1929
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 22. Dinocheirus panzeri<\/em> (C. L. Koch, 1873); Terrible-clawed chernes
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Genus Chernes<\/em> Menge, 1855
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a023. Chernes cimicoides<\/em> (Fabricius, 1793); Common tree chernes
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Genus Dendrochernes<\/em> Beier, 1932
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 24. Dendrochernes cyrneus<\/em> (C. L. Koch, 1873); Large tree chernes
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0[Genus Americhernes<\/em> Muchmore 1976
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 25. Americhernes oblongus<\/em> (Say, 1821); American chernes ]
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Family Withiidae Chamberlin, 1931
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Genus Withius<\/em> Kew, 1911
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a026. Withius piger<\/em> (Simon, 1878); Lazy chelifer\u00a0
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Family Cheliferidae Risso, 1827
\u00a0 \u00a0Subfamily Cheliferinae Risso, 1827
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Genus Chelifer<\/em> Geoffroy, 1762
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 27. Chelifer cancroides<\/em> (Linnaeus, 1758); House chelifer
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Genus Dactylochelifer<\/em> Beier, 1932
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 28. Dactylochelifer latreillii<\/em> (Leach, 1817); Marram grass chelifer
\u00a0 \u00a0Superfamily Garypoidea Simon, 1879
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Family Larcidae Harvey 1992
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Genus Larca<\/em> Chamberlin, 1930
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 29. \u00a0Larca lata<\/em> (Hansen, 1884); Oak tree chelifer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE  Americhernes oblongus<\/em> was found in Kent as an alien introduction and is not a viable population and so not included in any key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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