I found this tiny (about 3-4mm) bug inside a pot of a lily bulb 13th January.
I wonder now whether it could be Arcitalitus sylvaticus or A. dorrieni.
We have a picture of Arcitalitrus sylvaticus in Bug File pictures that looks very much like mine, but there is no size mentioned.. I didn't find pictures though of A. dorrieni on the web so I cannot compare with mine.
Both species seem to have been introduced from Australia in many parts of the world with the plant trades..
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/4727/
CLOSED: Arcitalitrus sylvaticus or A. dorrieni ?
Rather than relying on images (often not reliable when trying to differentiate between very similar species), you might have a look at the publication “The Amphipod Genus Arcitalitrus (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) of New South Wales Forests, With Descriptions of Six New Species” [http://amonline.net.au/pdf/publications/1459.pdf] where the following description occurs: “Arcitalitrus appears to have two groups. The “Sylvaticus”species group is defined by gill 6 that has a convoluted anterior margin and a subapically incised posterior margin and the rami of pleopod 3 that are subequal in length to the peduncle. This group contains Ar. bassianus, Ar. belbucca, Ar. nana, Ar. orara, and Ar. sylvaticus. The “Dorrieni” species group contains Ar. dorrieni and Ar. moonpar and is defined by epimeron 2 that is longer than epimeron 3, a subquadrate posteroventral corner on epimeron 3 and an entire telson. The long epimeron 2 and
the subquadrate corner of epimeron 3 are homoplastic characters that also occur in Ar. bassianus.
If it would help, there is a diagram of generalized amphipod morphology at http://tinyurl.com/d3cuuc
Oh dear, lol!
Suunto that beats me!
But there should be only a few terrestrial ones like mine;
Quote from the site you gave a link;
"A few species also live in terrestrial ecosystems"
The diagram of generalized amphipod morphology has been very helpful!
Now at least I know what's the head and the tail part! I had it all wrong, lol!
I think I'll better call mine simply Arcitalitus sp.
Thanks a lot!
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