First record of pseudoscorpions phoretic on dragonflies

On 14 May 1983, 1 collected 14 adult male Gomphus septima (Anisoptera: Gomphidae) on the Rocky River, Chatham Co., North Carolina, USA. While examining these specimens in the evening. I was surprised to find a pseudoscorpion firmly clamped with its pedipalps onto the setea on the underside of the thorax behind the hind legs of I G. septima. A second pseudoscorpion was found in the envelope with another G. septima. No other pseudoscorpions were associated with the other 5 species of Anisoptera, including 2 Gomphidae (Gomphus abbreviatus Hag., and G. exilis Sel.), collected at the same time and place. The pseudoscorpions mentioned above were kindly identified by W.B. Muchmore as male Americhernes oblongus (Pseudoscorpionida: Chernetidae). Dr Muchmore states(pers. comm.) that this species is not noted for phoresy, but that it has been found occasionally on beetles (cf. W.B. MUCHMORE, 1971, Proc. Rochester Acad. Sci. 12; 78-97, under Lamprochernes oblongus), on a fly, and in light traps. He also noted that phoretic chernetids are usually females, seldom males. A. oblongus is usually found under separated bark of logs, or occasionally in leaf litter, during the daytime. Its whereabouts at night are unknown, but it is probably active on the surfaces of bark and litter.