Pest profile

Lawn shrimp (terrestrial amphipods)

Talitridae (e.g., Talitroides topitotum) · Amphipoda: Talitridae[2]

After heavy rain, lawn shrimp leave soaked mulch in large numbers, crawl into garages and under doors, and soon die.[1]

Lawn shrimp, a small brown shrimp-like amphipod, on a white surface
Lawn shrimp, a small brown shrimp-like amphipod, on a white surface. Photo: jonatan sugatti, public domain (CC0), via iNaturalist

How to identify it

  • They're small shrimp-like crustaceans, brownish to greenish when alive, that often turn pink to red when they die.[1]
  • Florida's two common species are about 7 mm and 3.5 mm long.[1]

Look-alikes

Look-alikeHow to tell them apart
SpringtailsSpringtails are insect-like with three pairs of legs and one pair of antennae; amphipods have seven leg-bearing segments and two antenna pairs.[1]

Where it lives

Two species are common in Florida, and about 90 amphipod species occur in the U.S. and Canada.[1]

US map: public records from 9 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

They live in the top half inch of mulch and moist ground and are mostly active at night.[1]

Lacking a waxy coating, they dry out fast, which is why they die indoors or on drying pavement.[1]

Damage and signs

  • During rainy weather many end up in swimming pools, where they can clog pool filters.[1]

Health risk

UF/IFAS mentions no risk to people; they can be safely swept or vacuumed up.[1]

Control

Keep them out

Weather stripping at the bottom of doors helps keep them out.[1]

Sanitation

Dry out mulch or ground cover near problem areas by turning it or cutting back irrigation.[1]

Traps and physical control

Sweep or vacuum them up; there are no labeled insecticide recommendations, and pool filters need regular cleaning in wet spells.[1]

Common questions

What are the tiny red shrimp-like things on my garage floor after rain?
Likely lawn shrimp, which turn pink to red when they die.[1]
Should I spray for lawn shrimp?
No; there are no labeled insecticide recommendations. Dry the mulch and sweep them up.[1]

Sources

  1. University of Florida IFAS Extension (Featured Creatures), “Terrestrial Amphipods or Lawn Shrimp (EENY-220).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN377 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. iNaturalist, “Talitroides topitotum taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/260706 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.