Tiny world

Moss false scorpion

Neobisium carcinoides

It looks like a scorpion with no tail. It has big pincers, but it is far too small to hurt you.

Here it is following your pointer, drawn many times bigger than life. Find it at real size with the magnifying glass in the Tiny World.

Good to know

Three things about the false scorpion

False scorpions hunt springtails and mites, catching them in their pincers.

They have no sting in their tail, because they have no tail at all. Their venom is in the pincers.

To travel a long way, a false scorpion grabs the leg of a fly or beetle and hitches a lift.

The real thing

Out and about

Shake a handful of leaf litter or moss over a white tray and wait. Look for something like a tiny tick walking backwards with its pincers held out.

Lend a hand

Leave leaf litter and moss undisturbed. They hunt mites and springtails, and do no harm at all.

Keep going

Aphids