Sminthurinus species are very variable in colour pattern and it is essential to examine the presence or absence of ventral subapical setae on the dens in order to make a correct identification. Sminthurinus niger is unique among British and Irish Sminthurinus in having only ONE ventral subapical seta on the dens (Figs. 1 to 4).
     Sminthurus niger is common and widespread and is found mainly in moss, moist leaf litter and soil. It reaches 1.0 mm in length and is black or bluish black in colour, often with a small white spot on the inner side of each eye patch. The fourth antennal segment (ant4) is NOT subdivided. Both edges of the mucro are serrated (Fig. 2). In females, the long setae surrounding the anus are expanded at the base and the sub-anal appendages (SAA) are feathery at the tips. The empodium of the second and third legs (leg2 and leg3) is slightly shorter than the claw, but is longer than the claw on leg1.

Back to main page

Fig. 1 (above) and 2 (below): Mucro and distal dens at two levels of focus of Sminthurinus niger collected from Long Ashton near Bristol in May 1957 by Gisin.

Fig. 3 (above) and 4 (below): Mucro and distal dens at two levels of focus of Sminthurinus niger collected from Tarlton, Gloucestershire in March 1970 by Harold Gough.