Hypogastrura litoralis is a member of the difficult group of Hypogastrura with three or four clavate setae in two whorls (A and B) on the tibiotarsus of the third leg (tt3). Hypogastrura litoralis has tt1 with two clavate seta in the A row (the one nearest the claw), tt2 with three clavate setae in the A row, and tt3 with three clavate setae in the A row and one clavate seta in the B row. The abdominal setae are also all of similar length (macrosetae not present; Fig. 5). There are specimens in the NHML collection which fit the above description from the following sites:- Jesmond Dene, NE England; Konnor Pass, Kerry, Ireland; Porthcothan Beach, Cornwall; Chedworth in Gloucestershire. These characters are identical to Hypogastrura browni (described by Bagnall in 1940) except that Hypogastrura litoralis has between nine and 12 setae between the sensilla on abd5 whereas Hypogastrura browni has only eight setae in this position. However, Arne Fjellberg and I have come to the conclusion that these differences are not significant. Thus, Hypogastrura browni falls as a junior synonym of Hypogastrura litoralis. According to Fjellberg (1998), Hypogastrura litoralis is a species of the seashore and wet bogs. Much more work needs to be done on this group to clarify the species boundaries.

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Fig. 1 (above): Furca of Hypogastrura litoralis collected from Jesmond Dene in July 1983 by Penny Greenslade.

Figs. 2 to 4 (left): Legs of the same specimen of Hypogastrura litoralis shown in Fig. 1 showing the clavate tenant setae (ts) on the tibiotarsi (the empodium is hidden under the claw in each case).
Fig. 2 (top): Leg1; tt with two clavate tenant setae in the A row.
Fig. 3 (middle): Leg2; tt with three clavate tenant setae in the A row.
Fig. 4 (bottom) :Leg3; tt with three clavate tenant setae in the A row and a single clavate tenant seta in the B row.

Fig. 5 (below): Posterior abdomen of the same specimen of Hypogastrura litoralis shown in Fig. 1 showing the similar length of the setae (i.e. macrosetae not present); as, anal spines.