All members of the genus Arrhopalites have only one ocellus on each side of the head. Arrhopalites cochlearifer is a rare species with only a single definite record from Roudsea Wood, Lancashire made by Peter Lawrence in September 1962.
     Arrhopalites cochlearifer is very similar in appearance to Arrhopalites principalis. However, the female sub-anal appendage is 'spoon shaped' at the tip in Arrhopalites cochlearifer (Fig. 1) whereas it is 'feather shaped' in Arrhopalites principalis. In addition, there are only four thickened setae of the same size on each side of the dorsal region of the head of Arrhopalites cochlearifer (Fig. 2) whereas there are six thickened setae on each side of the dorsal region of the head of Arrhopalites principalis.

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Fig. 1 (above): Dorsal region of the head of Arrhopalites cochlearifer collected from Roudsea Wood, Lancashire in September 1962 by Peter Lawrence. The specimen is damaged but here are clearly only four thick setae (1 to 4) on each side of the head.

Fig. 2 (above): Female subanal appendage (SAA) of the same specimen of Arrhopalites cochlearifer shown in Fig. 1. The tip is 'spoon' shaped and is clearly not feathered.