Thread: HELP. I have hopping shrimp like bugs in my garden
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Old 16-11-2008, 09:49 PM
flyingelephant flyingelephant is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Nov 2008
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Originally Posted by Rusty_Hinge View Post
The message

from Dave Poole contains these words:

I'm not sure what species (Arcitalitrus sylvestris or dorrieni) they
are, but 'landhoppers' appear to be more prevalent and spreading.
They are significantly larger than 'springtails' being upwards of 1cm.
long. I understand they are alien to the UK, but became established
in milder coastal regions and have spread steadily outside these
ranges. To all intents and purposes, they appear to be the land
equivalent of the freshwater shrimp and feed on decaying plant matter
and detritus. They do no harm to living plants, although it can be a
bit surprising to shift a pot or a pile of wet leaves and find
hundreds of them frantically hopping about in order to escape the
light. I first noticed them in my garden several years ago and
mentioned it here on URG at the time.

Coo! Could you catch me some, please?

I'm making a vivarium for land hermit crabs, but I have another two old
glass accumulator cases which should be ideal for those.

I can devise and send (with return postage) a container you can put damp
stuff in, then pop them in through a sprung trap in the top.

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
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South West UK, and yes they are up to around 1cm in length. I'll put a load in the compost heap if they are good for eating old dead vegitation.
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