Orchesella cincta is one of the most common species of Collembola in Britain and Ireland. The densely pigmented third abdominal segment is characteristic, although the level of pigmentation is somewhat variable (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4). As with other species of Orchesella, one or both antennae may be reduced in length, possibly due to damage during an earlier instar (Fig. 5). The largest specimen I have seen was 4.0 mm in length.

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Fig. 1 (above), Fig. 2 (below), Fig. 3 (left) and Fig. 4 (below left): Specimens of Orchesella cincta collected from a garden in Reading.

Fig. 5 (above): Head and antennae of Orchesella cincta collected from Mitcham Common in August 1977 by Brian Pitkin. One antennae has six segments whereas the terminal segment of the other (5*) is the fifth segment. Asymmetric antennae are extremely common in Orchesella cincta.