Entomobrya lanuginosa is a greenish to greyish-blue species up to 2 mm in length. The dorsal side of the body does not have the distinct pattern of dark pigment localised in patches, or along the margins of the body segments found in the other Entomobrya species that occur in Britain and Ireland. Most records are from coastal sites although there are some inland localities. Having examined specimens of Entomobrya maritima in the NHML collection, I am convinced that they are conspecific with Entomobrya lanuginosa. Both 'species' have smooth labral papillae (Fig. 1) and a prominent spot of pigment on the head between the bases of the antennae (Fig. 2). The mucro is of the 'typical' Entomobrya type with two teeth and a small spine (Fig. 3).
Fig. 2 (above): Prominent spot of pigment between the antennae (ant) on the head of Entomobrya lanuginosa collected from Milford Haven in March 1959 by A. South. The solid line surrounding the head is a mounting artefact.
Fig. 1 (above): Anterior region of the head of Entomobrya lanuginosa collected from Romney Marsh, Kent in August 1926 by A. Bishop. The margins of the labral papillae (1 to 4) are smooth and do not bear any small teeth.
Fig. 3 (above): Mucro with two teeth and a small spine of Entomobrya lanuginosa (labelled Entomobrya maritima on the slide) collected from Romney Marsh, Kent in August 1926 by A.H. Bishop.
