CHILOPODA (centipedes) > LITHOBIOMORPHA (stone centipedes) > Lithobiidae

At no more than 10mm long, Lithobius microps is probably the smallest of any of the centipedes I'm likely to find locally. Although typically chestnut-brown in colour, they can be variable with some individuals like the one featured here being quite light. Its antennae are relatively short at no more than a third of the body length, usually with 25 articles although variable from 23-27. Another good identification aid is that both the 14th and 15th legs are markedly thickened, which is a feature that is only shared with the darker and much rarer Lithobius muticus that mainly occurs in the southeast. Lithobius microps is typically associated with synanthropic sites, but can also be found in woodland.