Friesea mirabilis is a bluish-grey very common and widespread soil-dwelling species with three anal spines (Fig. 1). The largest specimen I have seen was 1.3 mm in length although the species may reach 1.9 mm according to other authors. Friesea mirabilis does not possess clavate setae and the dens bears a small mucro (Fig. 2; the main feature which separates it from Friesea truncata).
     Some authors use chaetotaxy to separate
Friesea mirabilis from Friesea truncata. Friesea mirabilis has been described as having seta a4 PRESENT on the dorsal side of the second thoracic segment (th2) whereas in Friesea truncata, seta a4 is ABSENT from th2. In Friesea mirabilis, seta A4 is supposed to be PRESENT on the tibiotarsi whereas in Friesea truncata seta A4 is ABSENT. However, these characters are not 100% reliable in UK/Eire material I have seen; asymmetry is frequent. The possibility still exists that Friesea truncata is simply a variety of Friesea mirabilis.
     Species of
Friesea have 8+8 ocelli (Fig. 3) but no post antennal organ (PAO) or empodium on the foot (Fig. 4). The mandibles are reduced (as in all Neanuridae) and do not bear a grinding plate (Fig. 5).
     Several of the records by Bagnall were made under the name
Friesea poseidonis which is a junior synonym of Friesea mirabilis.

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Fig. 1 (above): Anal spines (*) on the sixth abdominal segment (abd6) of Friesea mirabilis collected from Ballyvaghan, Clare, Ireland in July 1960 by Peter Lawrence. D, dorsal; V, ventral.

Fig. 2 (above): Furca of Friesea mirabilis collected from Dalmeny near Edinburgh in June 1937 by R.S. Bagnall. man, manubrium; ten, tenaculum.

Fig. 3 (above): Eight ocelli (A-H) of the eye of the same specimen of Friesea mirabilis shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 (above): Second leg of the same specimen of Friesea mirabilis shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 (above): Head of Friesea mirabilis collected from Ballyvaghan, Clare, Ireland in July 1960 by Peter Lawrence.