The chaetotaxic variability of genital setae and trochanter III setae of adult Platynothrus peltifer (c. L. Koch) is studied on topotypes of the Regensburg region and on several other populations, namely numerous countries of Europe, the islands of the Azores, Madeira, Reunion and South India. It appears that P. peltiler is a variable species and not a species group. This variability could be the result of both genetical and ecological differences.