Homalenotus quadridentatus is a very distinctive flattened harvestman with short legs and rows of four prominent stout tubercles on the dorsal surface of the abdomen. These tubercles are white and the central pair in each row surrounded by a black spot (though adhering soil in adults may obscure this otherwise distinctive pattern). The rear of the abdomen has a row of four backwards facing stout tubercles. Rather than a trident, there is a single forward-facing large spine at the front of the cephalothorax.
Homalenotus quadridentatus mainly occurs in the south and southeast of the UK - see the distribution map of the Spider and Harvestman Recording Scheme . In Europe it is mostly found in countries on the western Atlantic-facing coast, down as far as the north of Spain and Portugal.
Homalenotus quadridentatus is strongly associated with calcareous grasslands and woodlands where it may be found in the ground layer at the base of plants, in the leaf litter and under logs and stones. Sieving is said to be a good way to find it.
Only limited information is available on phenology, but it is said to be found all year due to adults living for more than one year. Breeding is likely to occur in mi-summer.
Hillyard, P. D., & Sankey, J. H. P. 2005. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) No. 4: Harvestmen. Third Edition.Field Studies Council, Shrewsbury.
Richards, P. 2010. Guide to Harvestmen of the British Isles. Field Studies Council, Shrewsbury.
Richards, P. 2017. Tabular key for Identification of British Harvestmen (Opiliones). Unpublished.
Wijnhoven, H. 2009. De Nederlandse hooiwagens (Opiliones). Nederlandse Entomologische Vereniging.