It is the most widely distributed species of pseudoscorpion in the world, it occurs in a range of habitats, but it is mostly synanthropic and harmless to humans.

In males, coxa IV is strongly arcuate, has a large lateral process, and has a coxal sac lacking a differentiated atrium.

Both Species were assigned to the mite genus Acarus, then transferred to Phalangium by Linnaeus in 1767 and to Scorpio in 1775 by Fabricius.

[5] Chelifer cancroides feeds on small arthropods such as psocids, fruit flies and mites such as Varroa.

[8] It also occurs in human structures such as houses, stables, barns, chicken coops and bee hives.

This venom contains various peptides and is toxic to bacteria (e.g. methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), fungi, arthropods (e.g. aphids and Varroa mites) and mammalian cells.