Spiders of North Carolina

Order:
Scientific Name: Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

View	CHELIFERIDAE Members:	NC Records
Dactylochelifer copiosus Hoff 1945 - Forest Chelifer

Taxonomy

Order: PSEUDOSCORPIONES	Family: CHELIFERIDAE
Comments: Of 44 known species in the genus, two occur in the US – D. silvestris in the west and D. copiosus in the east.
Species Comment: Body and pedipalps brown, legs yellowish

Identification

Online Description/Photos:	BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIF	Technical Description: Hoff, C.C., 1945. New species and records of pseudoscorpions from Arkansas. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society, 64, p.34-57. Buddle, C., 2010, Photographic key to the pseudoscorpions of Canada and the adjacent USA, Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification, No. 10. Nelson, S.O., J., 1975. A systematic study of Michigan Pseudoscorpionida (Arachnida). American Midland Naturalist, 93, p.257-301.
Comments: ID family by all legs with 5 segments, two eyes, femors of legs I and II different in shape to femors of legs III and IV, venom apparatus present in both fixed and moveable fingers of chela. ID genus by male genital sacs present in coxae of leg IV and with well-defined atria. Only one species of this genus occurs in our area.
Total Length: Males 2.3 to 2.74 mm Females 2.59 to 3.37 mm

Distribution in North Carolina

Comments: Central and eastern states, from Mississippi, Arkansas and Michigan, and from Florida north to Nova Scotia
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Adult phenology: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Often rather dry leaf litter, ground cover and woody debris

Observation Methods: Found by sifting leaf litter visually or in a Berlese funnel

Abundance/Frequency:

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks:

State Protection:

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Dactylochelifer copiosus - Forest Chelifer		Photos: 3
	Recorded by: Carol Tingley on 2020-06-26 Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Carol Tingley on 2020-06-26 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Carol Tingley on 2020-06-26 Orange Co. Comment:

Photo Gallery for Dactylochelifer copiosus - Forest Chelifer