Ballistura schoetti is moderately common and is probably widespread although there are no records from Wales or southwest England. This species is usually found in rotting seaweed, or inland in sites with high levels of organic matter including sewage treatment works. Ballistura schoetti is dark blue in colour, has 8+8 ocelli (Fig. 1) and reaches a length of 1.7 mm. There are no ventral manubrial setae but the ventral side of the dens bears numerous setae throughout most of its length (Fig. 2). Unfortunately, the few specimens in the NHML slide collection are in bad condition, hence the poor quality of the photographs below.

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Fig. 2 (above): Ventral side of the dens of Ballistura schoetti collected from Mortyclough, Clare, Ireland in July 1960 by Peter Lawrence. Note the numerous setae throughout almost the entire length of the dens.

Fig.1 (above): Ballistura schoetti collected from Mortyclough, Clare, Ireland in July 1960 by Peter Lawrence showing eight ocelli in the eye(*) and the oval post-antennal organ (PAO).