In this study, the complete ontogenetic development of morphological traits in Phenopelopidae was investigated on the base of juvenile and adult specimens of Eupelops hirtus (Berlese, 1916) and Peloptulus phaenotus (CL Koch, 1844) and literature. The juveniles of Eupelops Ewing, 1917, Peloptulus Berlese, 1908 and Propelops Jacot, 1937 show plicate integument and a dorsoventrally flattened hysterosoma, with short setae c 1 , c 3 and of d-series on the gastronotum, which seem to be typical of Phenopelopidae. However, the juveniles of Eupelops and Peloptulus have some or all marginal setae on the gastronotum longer and thicker than other setae, at least one setal pair on the posterior part of gastronotum (h 1 in larva and h 3 in nymphs), whereas those of Propelops have these setae long or short. The juveniles and adults of Eupelops and Peloptulus differ distinctly from those of Propelops in the type of subcapitulum and chelicerae; the two former genera have the subcapitulum secondarily anarthric and the chelicerae pelopsiform, whereas the latter genus has the subcapitulum diarthric and the chelicerae normal. The adults of Eupelops and Propelops have 10 pairs of notogastral setae, including c 2 and 2-3 or three pairs of p-series, respectively, whereas that of Peloptulus has eight pairs, including c 2 and p 1 (p 2 and p 3 are lost). The two former genera have also setae of ad-series, whereas the latter genus lacks them. In Eupelops seta in is long and phylliform, whereas in other genera it is setiform; long in Propelops and short or long in Peloptulus. In all genera the anterior part of notogaster protrudes over the prodorsum as a tectum, but in Eupelops this tectum is considerably larger than in other genera.

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In this study, the morphology, distribution and ecology of Eupelops curtipilus (Berlese, 1916) and E. plicatus (C. L. Koch, 1835) are investigated and morphological characters of Eupelops Ewing, 1917 are discussed. The juveniles of these species have plicate integument and a dorsoventrally flattened hysterosoma, with short and thin setae c 1 , c 3 and of d-series on the gastronotum, which is typical of Phenopelopidae, whereas the length of marginal gastronotal setae differs in these species. Eupelops curtipilus has these setae short, except for a long and thick posterior seta h 1 in the larva and h 3 in the nymphs, whereas Eupelops plicatus has them longer and thicker, especially setae lp and h 1 in the larva and h 3 in the nymphs. The adults of E. curtipilus and E. plicatus have long, phylliform seta in, 10 pairs of notogastral setae, including three pairs of p-series, and three pairs of adanal setae, which are typical of Eupelops, but differ by the length and location of some notogastral setae. Eupelops curtipilus has all these setae short, including h 1 , whereas E. plicatus has them longer, especially h 1 . The former species has setae lp and h 3 inserted close to each other, with porose area A1 between them, whereas the latter species has setae lp and h 3 separated and A1 at the insertion of seta lp. The adults of both species have ventrodistal apophysis on genu I, which may have generic value. The juveniles and adult of E. plicatus have more long and thick setae on the leg segments than those of E. curtipilus. Eupelops curtipilus is considered a Palaearctic species, whereas E. plicatus is Holarctic.