LAWN SHRIMP

LAWN SHRIMP
There are about 90 species of shrimp in the United States, but only a few are terrestrial in nature. Although they live on land, they need a moist environment. They have a similar appearance to, and are often confused with springtails. They are found on beaches where they are called “beach fleas”, under ivy, leaf debris, mulch, decaying vegetation, and damp lawns. They will also live in loose moist soils. Lawn Shrimp can migrate into houses and garages after heavy rains, where they die and turn a bright red color. They can also clog pool filters.

Life Cycle
The female molts while mating. The eggs are eventually deposited inside a brood pouch on the underside of the female. They hatch in 1-3 weeks, and leave the pouch within the next week. The young look just like small adults. A female may only produce a single batch of eggs, and the entire egg to adult process can take up to a year.