Short-tailed Whipscorpion (Immature)

Description:

Nearly transparent, immature arachnid with horizontal stripes on abdomen and very prominent pedipalps. There is a short, thin stump on the end of the abdomen. This was about 5-6mm long. "Schizomids are relatively small, soft-bodied arachnids, somewhat similar in appearance to whip scorpions. The prosoma (cephalothorax) is divided into three regions, each covered by plates, the large protopeltidium and the smaller, paired, mesopeltidia and metapeltidia. The name means "split or cleaved middle", referring to the way the thorax is divided into two separate plates. The opisthosoma (abdomen) is a smooth oval of 12 recognizable segments. The first is reduced and forms the pedicel, while the last three are constricted, forming the pygidium. The last segment bears a short whip-like tail or flagellum, consisting of no more than four segments. Like the related orders Thelyphonida, Amblypygi, and Solifugae, the schizomids use only six legs for walking, having modified their first two legs to serve as sensory organs. They also have large well-developed pincer-like pedipalps just before the sensory legs. The hind legs are modified for jumping, as part of their escape response when threatened. Schizomids have no actual eyes, but a few species have vestigial eyespots capable of telling light from dark." - Wikipedia

Habitat:

Under rock in my backyard garden. My father lifted up a rock for me and saw something moving ;) There was only one when I spotted this one but when I returned to see if there were more, I saw 3 more. There's an apparent association with these and fire ants but I haven't seen any fire ants on our property. No adults have been spotted nor any more juveniles since the Dec 30th, 2012. I'll keep looking!

Notes:

First submission to BugGuide from California. The family Schizomida is now obsolete. This specimen is being sent for confirmation of the species as it's not known to be in the area.