Family Hoplopleuridae Ewing, 1929

Small to medium in size (adults ~ 0.8–1.4 mm long). Head lacking eyes; antennae with 4 or 5 segments. Thorax lacking a notal pit; thoracic sternal plate well developed. Legs progressively larger (from fore, mid, to hind legs), each terminating in an acuminate claw; tibial thumbs well developed. Abdomen usually with well-developed tergal, sternal, and paratergal plates; paratergal plates large, overlapping, and with apices free from body. Abdominal segments 3–8 each with a pair of spiracles. Sternal plate of abdominal segment 2 prolonged laterally on each side to articulate with corresponding paratergal plate. Male genitalia with large basal apodeme, well-developed parameres, and distinct pseudopenis. Females with large subgenital plate, large gonopods VIII, and (usually) short gonopods IX.