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How to Get Rid of Lawn Shrimp – 8 Amazing Tips and Tricks

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Arcitalitrus sylvaticus is most commonly known as the lawn shrimp or land hopper. Lawn shrimp is a species of beach hoppers belonging to the family Talitridae. Lawn shrimp infestation can be a real nuisance.

If their infestation afflicts you, keep reading the article to learn some excellent methods to get rid of lawn shrimp. Even though the lawn shrimp is native to Australia and the Pacific areas in the vicinity, they have now been found in various other regions.

Lawn shrimp have now invaded other places such as California, Florida, New Zealand, and the British Isles. The population of lawn shrimp is directly related to the presence of eucalyptus, ivy, and damp, boggy areas.

Lawn shrimp-like damp and moist areas or wetlands often invade gardens and lawns, dwelling in the wet mulch. We have compiled some really helpful tips on how to get rid of lawn shrimp.

How to Get Rid of Lawn Shrimp
Lawn Shrimp – via Wikimedia

What is Lawn Shrimp?

Lawn shrimp are about 4/5th of an inch, and they get their name due to their uncanny resemblance to sea shrimp. They have a pale brown color which turns into pink when they die. Lawn shrimp are neither categorized as insects nor shrimp. They belong to amphipods.

Amphipods possess eight pairs of legs. Five of these pairs are used for walking, and the remaining 3 pairs are used for swimming. Lawn shrimp are often confused with springtails that also live in moist areas. Lawn shrimp are not dangerous pests and do not require much control. However, when the infestation gets severe, you may take a few measures to get rid of these pesky critters.

What Attracts Lawn Shrimp to Your Yard?

These pesky little critters have often appeared in your yard, and you must be wondering what must have attracted these uninvited guests. They often inhabit the yards and outer buildings, and sometimes they even invade the houses. They are attracted to moist places in your yards and houses.

Lawn shrimp are crustaceans belonging to the amphipod family and are more closely related to sea shrimp and crabs instead of bugs. Unlike other amphipods that live in water, lawn shrimp prefer to dwell in moist areas on land. They are often attracted to the garden due to watering, wet mulch, or having a pool.

If you see these tiny critters hopping around your yard, then it means that your garden has been infested, and the shrimp are enjoying the wet topsoil. If you see any lawn shrimp indoors, it indicates that the outdoor environment is too dry for them, and they seek moist places inside your home.

Another possible reason might be that the garden has gotten too wet after the rain. Lawn shrimp can live neither in a too dry environment nor too wet. They need the right level of moisture to sustain themselves. So, after a downpour, the shrimp may seek asylum in your home to get away from the wet grounds.

The exoskeleton (outer shell) of lawn shrimp is very soft, unlike other crustaceans, and it cannot retain moisture properly. It is why they are so sensitive to the moisture level and seek a suitable moisture level to dwell.

If you find lawn shrimp dwelling in your garden, it certainly does not mean a lack of hygiene or poor management of the garden. They are simply a part of nature that you have to bear with. If you are tired of these critters and don’t know what to do, follow our guide to learn how to get rid of lawn shrimp.

How to Get Rid of Lawn Shrimp 2
Lawn Shrimp – via inaturalist.org

Helpful Tips on How to Get Rid of Lawn Shrimp

Lawn shrimp are not a serious threat and are certainly not dangerous. They pose no threat to your plants and garden. Lawn shrimp cannot bite and are not harmful to humans or pets.

Just because they don’t pose a threat does not mean they are not annoying, and you have to live with them. We have got some excellent tips just for you on how to get rid of lawn shrimp.

  1. As lawn shrimps are sensitive to moisture and are attracted to damp places in your garden, the best solution is to remove their habitat. Let your garden get a little dry to kill the lawn shrimp.
  2. Make sure the mulch is not wet. Avoid piling up dirt and rocks or any place with moisture where they can take shelter.
  3. Avoid overwatering your garden and flower beds. It will prevent the infestation in the first place; however, if it has occurred already, stop watering for a while and let the excess water dry off. As the moisture level drops, you will notice a decrease in the population of lawn shrimp.
  4. Lawn shrimp are very susceptible to the changes in their environment and can be gotten rid of quite easily without treating your garden chemically. There is no need for pesticides when you can achieve great results by simply changing their environmental conditions.
  5. If the infestation is severe or has started to invade the inside of your home, then you can also resort to using a vacuum. A vacuum cleaner can easily pick up lawn shrimp. Use a leaf vacuum to clean the areas afflicted by the lawn shrimp, and you shall be able to get rid of them quite easily. Use the same vacuuming technique for your indoors.
  6. Regularly rake your soil and avoid having damp soil or soil covers. Regularly clean under the static objects in your gardens, such as gnomes, trash cans, and flower pots. These places make lawn shrimp an excellent dwelling, so keeping them dry and clean prevents shrimp infestation.
  7. Having a pool can be especially difficult, and the lawn shrimp infestation can be a huge nuisance then. You will need to seek professional assistance to get your pools cleaned in such cases. However, any chemical treatment is prohibited for lawn shrimp since they are not considered a pest. You will likely get told to change their habitat and dry it up. You can let the pool water drain and then have the pool cleaned.
  8. Another approach that can be taken while dealing with lawn shrimp is “live and let live.” If the infestation is not severe and the shrimp are present only in certain damp areas of your garden, just let them be. As long as they don’t invade your pool or indoors, you can go on ignoring them. They will carry on with their business of breaking down the simple organic matter present in your soil.
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Conclusion

Pests can be a real nuisance for you and can drastically affect flora and fauna of your garden and living space. However, not all pests are harmful.

Lawn shrimp fits in the description of harmless invaders that do not threaten you or your garden. Even if they are not dangerous, they can still be annoying, especially in cases when they invade your home and pool. To ease your troubles, we have enlisted 8 awesome tips on how to get rid of lawn shrimp.

If you find our tips helpful, leave your kind feedback in the comments below!

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