Monobella grassei is a distinctive cream or pale orange species (Fig. 1) which fades to white in 70% alcohol. The body setae are obvious (Fig. 2) (although not as long as in Lathriopyga longiseta) and there are two ocelli on each side of the head (Fig. 3). Monobella grassei is probably widespread in Wales and southern England. An old record of this species for Ireland was based on a slide prepared by Bagnall in the Natural History Museum in London. However I have examined this specimen and it is Anurida granaria.

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Fig. 1 (above): Monobella grassei (2.0 mm in length) collected from a garden in Reading, Berkshire where it was common.

Fig. 2 (above): Monobella grassei collected from Boxhill, Surrey by R.S. Bagnall (date not known). The setae on the body are about the same length as the first abdominal segment (abd1).

Fig. 3 (above): Monobella grassei (2.0 mm in length) collected from a garden in Reading, Berkshire. There are two ocelli (*) on each side of the head.