29. Polistichus connexus (Geoffroy, 1785)

Fig. 4 J

Habitat and general distribution.

Polistichus connexus has a wide distribution in Europe, North Africa, Near and Middle East (Huber and Marggi 2017). The species occurs in open habitats, often in artificial areas (Holec et al. 2019).

Material examined.

• Heraklion: Almyros Estuary, salt-marsh, 35.338503°N, 25.061403°E, 1 m elev., 3.V.2012 – 3.VI.2012, pitfall traps, 4 spms, leg. Aspradaki E (NHMC) ; • same data, but 3.VI.2012 – 1.VIII.2012, 1 spm; • Lasithi: Lasithi plateau, moni Vidiani, 35.182902°N, 25.462299°E, 816 m elev., 13.XII.1997, handpicking, 1 spm, leg. Mylonas M. (NHMC) .

Comments.

Polistichus connexus is known from the Greek mainland and Peloponnese (Arndt et al. 2011) and this is the first time the species has been reported from Crete. It has been found in two different habitats (a coastal salt-marsh and a humid mountain plateau with shrublands, dehesa-like forests and cultivations).