Blue-horned Beach Hopper (Megalorchestia columbiana)

Other Names: Pale beach hopper, gray beach hopper

Description: Like other amphipods, the blue-horned beach hopper is a small bug-like creature that can be found bouncing in the wrack line on sandy beaches. The blue-horned beach hopper is about 2cm long, and has a translucent light grey body with dark grey patches. Their jointed legs allow them to jump to impressive heights, and dig sand burrows where they find refuge during the day.

Habitat: Blue-horned beach hoppers can be found on sandy beaches from Southern Alaska to Central California. They are typically in the high intertidal zone and in the wrack line.

Diet: Blue-horned beach hoppers eat seaweed and other decaying debris that might wash onto the beach.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• Beach hoppers are an important group of species in the ecosystem because they help breakdown organic material that washes onto the beach.

• Blue-horned beach hoppers are often confused with fleas and sometimes even called beach fleas. 

• Despite their resemblance to fleas, blue-horned beach hoppers are not a species that bites.

Reference: Biodiversity of the Central Coast