@vikxin @ryanhodnett

Really the reason people don't see them is they are SO TINY. They are not kidding about that "smaller than a grain of rice" stuff. I only see them when I'm observing the smallest ants. And they are smaller.

@vikxin @ryanhodnett

They are also little sneaks that work in packs. I observed about five of them packed into a crack in the bark of the oak tree. They grabbed at every insect that walked by... Including ants! And very few arthropods will mess with ants.

They caught some kind of little beetle as a group and pulled it into their little crack house.

@ryanhodnett @futurebird

@MishaVanMollusq @futurebird @vikxin I've only seen them two other times. All three times were indoors just walking across the floor or wall. Would love to see one outdoors.

@futurebird @vikxin @ryanhodnett

crack house

I see what you did

@guyjantic @vikxin @ryanhodnett

I thought about rewording it... then thought about how they live and said... nah. That's how the ants probably see their little den so it's fair.

@ryanhodnett @MishaVanMollusq @futurebird @vikxin eek! It looks like a cross between a bed bug and a scorpion! nope. Nope. Nope. No thank you.

@ironcladlou @ryanhodnett @MishaVanMollusq @vikxin

They are tiny, live in bark outside and can't pinch or sting or bite a human. Ants have reasons to dislike them. But people can think they are cute and sneaky.

@ironcladlou @ryanhodnett @MishaVanMollusq @vikxin

Basically they are safe to pick up (they will sit on you and enjoy the warmth of your finger... but mostly they hide)

@ironcladlou @ryanhodnett @MishaVanMollusq @futurebird they actually eat pests, and are beneficial to e.g. libraries since they eat detritivores like booklice.