Patapius spinosus
(Rossi, 1790)
spiny-legged bug
Patapius spinosus is a leptopodid distinguished by its heavily spined body. to Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe and North Africa, it has been to North America, Chile, and Japan. It inhabits supralittoral zones of sandy beaches and rocky coasts.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Patapius spinosus: //pəˈtæ.pi.əs spaɪˈnoʊ.səs//
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Identification
Distinguished from other by the combination of spiny body covering and long, slender legs. In the supralittoral zone, it may be confused with other coastal , but the dense spination is diagnostic for the Patapius.
Images
Appearance
Body covered with prominent . Long and legs relative to body size, characteristic of the .
Habitat
Supralittoral zone of sandy beaches and coastal rocky shores. Found in intertidal and immediately supratidal environments.
Distribution
to Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe and North Africa. to North America, Chile, and Japan (first recorded 2002-2004 in Osaka and Kanagawa Prefectures).
Seasonality
have been collected in autumn (October 2002) and spring (April 2004) in Japan.
Behavior
Slow, deliberate movement across vegetation and substrate surfaces. involving transfer of fluid from to legs has been observed in related leptopodids.
Similar Taxa
- Jalysus spinosusFormerly confused taxonomically; a () with similar name but different , feeding primarily on Panicum grasses and predatory on soft-bodied . Patapius spinosus is a leptopodid of coastal with different body form and .
More Details
Taxonomic History
First described by Rossi in 1790. The Japanese records represent either the eastern limit of distribution or a recent introduction.
Habitat Specificity
Unlike the related (), which are primarily terrestrial vegetation-dwelling , Patapius spinosus is restricted to coastal marine environments.