© Stuart M Bennett 2000
Lithobius forficatus


All but one of the British lithobiids belong to the above group "Lithobius". The one pictured above is the most common and widespread, making itself at home everywhere from woods and moorlands to the seashore and the town garden. It is a rich chestnut brown animal, between 18 and 30 mm long and up to 4 mm broad. This is the species which usually runs away when you move stones or logs in your garden, and it may also invade the toolshed or greenhouse. Another species (not pictured) is "Lithobius duboscqui", it is paler than the one above and only measures about 10 mm long and 1 mm broad. Both species are very common.

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