Protura (see drawing of a typical one on the left) are minute, ranging in size from 1.0 - 1.5 mm long, colorless and eyeless. They do not have antennae or any terminal filaments. They have a cone-shaped head, and are found in damp soil where they feed on decayed organic matter. There are bout 400 species worldwide.

They have no antennae and hold their first pair of legs in front of their head using them like antennae.

When the larvae first hatch from the egg they have just 9 abdominal segments; this increases to the 12 of an adult with each moult.

There are around 20 British species, and they are most easily found in summer.