Lithobius fasciatus

G. Newport, 1845, Monograph of the class Myriapoda order Chilopoda; with observations on the general arrangement of the Articulata, Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 19, pp. 349-439 : 365

3. Lith. fasciatus ,

saturatè testaceus, scutorum dorsalium lateribus fascinque lata longitudinali medianâ nigrescentibus, ocellis 18 magnis nigris, labii denticulis 18 minutis nigris, labio mandibulis pedibusque flavis: metatarsorum articulis ferrugineis pilosis.- Long. 1 1/4 unc.

Hab. In Italia ad Florentiam Neapolinque . (v. in Mus. D. Hope.)

The head is ferruginous, convex, subquadrate, with scattered punctures; the ocelli are very large, especially the four upper ones, and together with the sides of the head are of a deep black; the antennae are ferruginous, pubescent, with forty-one joints: the labium is broad, flattened, punctured and hairy, with the dental border nearly straight, and armed with eighteen minute black teeth, of which one or more of the external ones are often absent; the body is polished, with a black longitudinal fascia, often more or less indistinct. Mandibles, labium and legs yellow, the five posterior legs blackened or annulated; metatarsal joints vary hairy, ferruginous; claws black; articular spines of all the legs very short, excepting one on the tarsus, which is much elongated.

This is a fine species, collected by Mr. Hope both at Florence and Naples . It approaches very much in its appearance to L. variegatus , but is a great deal larger.

The specimens obtained from Naples are usually of a much lighter colour, but in other respects they agree precisely with those from Florence .