Scorpions at Charnwood Lodge?

Neobisium carcinoides

Actually no, but there are pseudoscorpions, related to true scorpions but in a separate Order of arthropods. Like true scorpions they are venomous, but they have venom glands in their chelicerae (pincers) rather than a sting in the tail. The good news is that at only 2-3mm long, they are completely harmless to humans, although not so to the springtails, mites, nematodes and other tiny organisms on which they feed. On a recent trip to Charnwood Lodge I found abundant Neobisium carcinoides in the leaf litter at two different locations. There are more than 3,300 species of pseudoscorpion worldwide, with more being discovered on a regular basis. Most live in leaf litter, moss and soils but some live in houses, such as the Book Scorpion, Chelifer cancroides, which feeds on booklice and so helps to preserve your library!


Charnwood Lodge

Neobisium carcinoides was last recorded at Charnwood Lodge in 1968. Although this species is easily overlooked I am surprised that it has not turned up in the many invertebrate surveys which have been conducted since then. The first County record dates from Buddon Wood in 1929, and John Crocker recorded it regularly on Charnwood in the 1960s. The most recent County record is from Beacon Hill in 2017 but like so many soil arthropods, this is very much a neglected group of organisms and they are undoubtedly widesprerad across the County. Please keep your eyes open for these tiny marvels!