About Arcitalitrus sylvaticus (Haswell, 1879)
Arcitalitrus sylvaticus, commonly called the lawn shrimp, lawn prawn, or landhopper, is a species of beach hopper belonging to the family Talitridae. William Aitcheson Haswell first formally described this species in 1879 under the original name Talitrus sylvaticus. This species is native to Australia and nearby Pacific regions, but it has been introduced to other locations including California, New Zealand, North Carolina, and Florida. The first recorded observation of this species in California dates to 1967. Individuals die when exposed to dry conditions, and will drown if their environment becomes too wet. In California in particular, the presence of these animals is an indicator of overwatered lawns, as they leave their usual habitats to avoid drowning. Their main food source is decaying leaves, and they reach higher population densities in their habitats than other soil arthropods. Because of these traits, they are important primary decomposers of leaf litter within their range.
