Hey there! I’ve been fascinated by foraging and sustainable food sources for years, and today I wanna share everything I know about those little critters you might’ve spotted in your yard – lawn shrimp! Let’s dive into whether these mini-crustaceans can actually make it to your dinner plate.
What Are Lawn Shrimp Anyway?
Lawn shrimp (technically called terrestrial amphipods) are these tiny crustaceans that are actually distant cousins of the seafood shrimp we love Here’s what you need to know about them
- Size: Usually around 0.8 inches long (pretty tiny!)
- Appearance: Brownish colored with flattened bodies
- Features: Got 8 pairs of legs (2 for jumping, 3 for swimming)
- Habitat: Love damp spots in your yard, especially after rain
- Origin: Originally from Australia but now found worldwide
The Big Question: Can You Eat Them?
Short answer: Yes, you can! But there’s more to the story…
These little guys are totally edible and some folks say they taste similar to their ocean cousins. However, I gotta be honest – collecting enough to make a proper meal would be quite a task!
Nutritional Benefits
If you’re thinking about trying them, here’s what they pack nutrition-wise:
- High protein content (35-60% of dry weight)
- Healthy fats including omega-3s
- Important minerals like:
- Iron
- Zinc
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Copper
- B vitamins (B12, riboflavin, niacin)
How to Harvest and Prepare Lawn Shrimp
If you’re feeling adventurous like me, here’s how to collect and cook these tiny crustaceans:
Best Collection Spots:
- Organic vegetable gardens
- Under logs and leaf litter
- Areas along woods and streams
- Avoid chemically treated lawns!
Cooking Methods:
-
Basic Preparation
- Rinse thoroughly
- Boil for 2-3 minutes minimum
- Store in ventilated container if not cooking immediately
-
Fun Cooking Ideas:
- Coat in egg/flour mix and fry (my personal fave!)
- Sauté with garlic and herbs
- Add to soups or stews
- Mix into rice dishes
- Bake into breads or crackers
Safety First! Important Considerations
Before you go harvesting, keep these things in mind:
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Proper Identification: Make sure you’re actually collecting lawn shrimp and not something else!
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Allergies: If you’re allergic to shellfish, steer clear! These guys can trigger similar reactions.
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Clean Sources: Only collect from areas you know aren’t treated with chemicals or pesticides.
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Always Cook: While some folks eat them raw, I strongly recommend cooking them first to kill any potential bacteria.
Are They Really Worth Trying?
Look, I’ll be straight with ya – lawn shrimp probably won’t replace regular shrimp in your diet. They’re super small, and collecting enough for a proper meal takes serious dedication. But if you’re into foraging or just curious about sustainable food sources, they’re definitely worth trying!
Tips for First-Time Lawn Shrimp Eaters
- Start small – try just a few first to see how your body reacts
- Mix them into familiar dishes rather than eating them alone
- Get creative with seasonings – they take on flavors well
- Consider them more as a protein supplement than a main dish
The Bottom Line
While lawn shrimp might not become your new favorite food, they’re definitely edible and can be a fun experiment for adventurous eaters. Plus, they’re free and available right in your backyard! Just remember to be safe, cook them properly, and maybe don’t serve them as the main course at your next dinner party
Y’know what’s cool? These little creatures are actually helping your garden by breaking down organic matter. So even if you decide not to eat them, they’re still pretty awesome to have around!
How to get rid of lawn shrimp (Image credit: Alamy/John Keates)
There are some simple ways to combat lawn shrimp. They never require chemical treatments and can be controlled with small changes to your gardening habits.
A rustic handcrafted insect house for gardens, made with natural wood and a poplar bark front. Encourages beneficial insects and natural predators that eat garden pests. Large Bird House
An outdoor birdhouse that has plenty of space for birds, with 10 separate rooms. Made from natural materials and equipped with metal hooks to hang around the yard to attract birds. Soil Moisture Meter
Avoid overwatering plants and lawns by checking the moisture levels with an easy-to-read soil moisture meter. Place the probe into the soil and the dial will immediately display the moisture level.
What are lawn shrimp? (Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/
Lawn shrimp (Arcitalitrus sylvaticus), sometimes called grass shrimp, lawn prawns, or landhoppers, are tiny crustaceans about 0.2-0.6 inches long. They have curved, segmented pink or reddish bodies and multiple legs making them resemble tiny shrimp.
But where do lawn shrimp come from? They were first discovered in Australia and the Pacific but have been introduced to other parts of the globe. They are now common in tropical and subtropical climates, including parts of the western and southern United States where they can be found in gardens and homes.
‘Lawn shrimps are often found living in damp, shaded areas with decaying organic material, which is why you may find them in your garden or lawn,’ says Daniel Baldwin, an entomologist at Hawx Pest Control. ‘They are usually found in tropical and subtropical climates, but can also appear in places that have experienced heavy rain. ‘
Daniel adds that lawn shrimps are found outside ‘most of the time’, but will enter homes, garages, or porches as they try to find refuge from heavy rain showers. ‘This means you may find dead lawn shrimp in small clusters in corners of the room or along the edge of the walls, which could be a sign of an infestation on your property,’ he says.
Lawn shrimps have a fast life cycle and reach maturity within a few weeks. They tend to live less than a year, but are susceptible to changing weather conditions and die quickly when they dry out.
LAWN SHRIMP Invasion in my house! aka Lawn Prawn or Land Hopper; NOT a Termite
FAQ
Can you eat grass shrimp?
Yes, grass shrimp are edible. While they are not typically targeted for human consumption and are more important as a food source for other fish and an ecological link in the food chain, they can be eaten.
Are lawn shrimp actually shrimp?
Lawn shrimp truly are crustaceans that live on land! These terrestrial shrimp-like creatures are about half an inch in length.Aug 25, 2021
Are lawn shrimp good?
Are lawn shrimp harmful? Lawn shrimp do not usually cause harm in a garden, they do not damage plants but feed on dead or decaying material around the yard.
Why are there lawn shrimp in my house?
According to the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, lawn shrimp live on the surface (top 1/2 inch) of mulch and moist ground. “After rains, large numbers … can migrate into garages or under the doors of houses. There they soon die…. They lose or gain moisture from their environment.