Associations Between Australian Pseudoscorpions and Ants

The distribution of three species of pseudoscorpions, foundunder the bark of blue gum Eucalyptus globulus, is closely correlatedwith the presence of three species of ants. Marachernes bellus is never found on trees without Anonychomyrma sp. nearfoetens, and Protochelifer victorianus and Paraustrochernes victorianus are more commonly found on trees with Technomyrmex jocosus and/or Tapinoma minutum. The distribution of anotherpseudoscorpion, Conicochernes sp., is not influenced by the presenceof these ants. Observations of the behavior of these pseudoscorpionsindicate that at least some species may be specialistpredators of ants