Lithobius crassipes

Description

A small red-brown species (to 13 mm) which has the antennae composed of c. 20 articles (as L. curtipes). Males are readily differentiated from L. curtipes by the lack of projection on the last legs.

Similar Species

Lithobius curtipes is very similar but has a maximum length of 9mm. Males of this species have a small projection on the hind leg. Also the ocelli are not arranged in rows.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • up to 13mm
  • red/brown
  • 2 pairs of forcipular teeth
  • 20 antennal articles
  • c7 ocelli arranged in rows
Habitat

Found in moist places, such as under logs and stones in woodland or in leaf litter.

When to see it

All year round.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain, but it appears to be less common in southern England and absent in the extreme south-west of England.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Centipedes & Millipedes
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lithobiomorpha
Family:
Lithobiidae
Records on NatureSpot:
5
First record:
03/04/2014 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
02/02/2021 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records