Micranurida sensillata is an extremely tiny and very rare soil-dwelling species which reaches only 0.4 mm in length. The only specimen I have seen is a superbly mounted individual collected by Harold Gough from calcareous soil at Tarlton, Gloucestershire in 1974 (Fig. 1). This specimen clearly shows the teardrop-shaped sensory structures on ant4 (Fig. 2) and on each side of the second thoracic segment and fourth abdominal segment (Figs. 5, 6), and the peculiar sickle-shaped sensillum on the third segment of the antenna (Fig. 3). The post-antennal organ (PAO) has between 9 to 14 lobes (Fig. 4).
     There is one other literature record by Curry (1969) from Ireland. Micranurida sensillata is white, blind and does not possess a furca. It must be much more common and widespread than records would indicate.

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Fig. 1 (above): Micranurida sensillata of 0.4 mm in length collected from Tarlton, Gloucestershire in March 1974 by Harold Gough.

Fig. 2 (above): Teardrop-shaped sensory structure on the fourth antennal segment (ant4) of the same specimen of Micranurida sensillata shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 (above): Sickle-shaped sensillum on the third antennal segment of the same specimen of Micranurida sensillata shown in Fig. 1. The arrow points to the tip of the sensillum.

Fig. 4 (above): PAO with ten lobes of the same specimen of Micranurida sensillata shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 (above): 'Teardrop'-shaped sensilla on the dorsal side of the fourth abdominal segment of the same specimen of Micranurida sensillata shown in Fig. 1 (the dark cross is an artifact).

Fig. 6 (above): 'Teardrop'-shaped sensilla shown in Fig. 5 at higher magnification.