Friesea claviseta is a bluish-grey common and widespread soil and litter species which reaches 1.1 mm in length. It is easily identified by the presence of clavate setae on the dorsal side of the posterior abdomen (Fig. 1) and tibiotarsi of the legs (Fig. 2). The furca is small and there is a distinct mucro on the dens.
     Species of Friesea have 8+8 ocelli but no post-antennal organ (PAO absent) or empodium on the foot (Fig. 2).

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Fig. 1 (above): Clavate setae (*) on the posterior abdomen of Friesea acuminata collected from Lough Inchiquin, Clare, Ireland in July 1971 by Peter Lawrence. The three anal spines are out of the plane of focus.

Fig. 2 (left): Long clavate setae (*) on the first leg of the same specimen of Friesea claviseta shown in Fig. 1.