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Ligia exotica
Wharf Roach
Wharf Louse
Sea Roach
Florida native
Usually found on rocky shores, jetties and sea walls just above the high tide line. Prevalent along the Atlantic coast - including the Intracoastal Waterway - from Florida to New Jersey. Distributed worldwide, probably via shipping. The native range is uncertain with some theories that it was western Europe and the Mediterranean, other suggestions are the Pacific and/or Indian Oceans.
Ligia exotica is dark grey, sometimes with brown splotches and legs that are pale brown. Males are typically larger than the females, up to 4cm (1-9/16 in.) in length. The head has two bulging eyes and two antenna that are longer than the body, which is flattish. Seven thoracic segments each have a pair of legs and the abdomen is made up of six segments, the first five containing gills and the last a pair of forked appendages called uropods.
Ligia exotica is a member of the Ligiidae - Rock Slaters family.
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Bugguide.net page for this species
Date record last modified: Jul 13, 2022
