What are these things in the sand?

[missourigrl]

We were on the beach this morning around 9am. We noticed lots of these little crab like things buried in the sand where the water washed ashore. They had little feelers or antennae that stuck above the sand and every once in a while several would come up to the surface of the sand and scoot out closer to the water and bury themselves back in the sand. They were maybe 2" long and white/gray in color. They weren't shaped flat like most crabs, instead they were more oval shaped. What are they...anyone know?

 

[AndrewG]

Sand Fleas?

 

[missourigrl]

Sand Fleas?

When I did a google search for "sand flea" I found some images of them. I guess that is what they are. Are they harmful in any way? What do they do?

 

[Rita]

Maybe ghost crabs? Next time watch and see if they run sideways. 2 inches sounds too large for sand fleas.

 

[missourigrl]

probably ghost crabs. Next time watch and see if they run sideways.

They aren't ghost crabs, but I have always wondered what those little white crabs on the beach are called. Thanks! What we were seeing this morning where the sand fleas the other poster suggested.

 

[Lynnie]

I've never actually seen a sand flea, just felt them. I thought they were kinda' microscopic?

 

[Danny Burns]

When I did a google search for "sand flea" I found some images of them. I guess that is what they are. Are they harmful in any way? What do they do?

They a are harmless link in the food chain and many people use them for bait.

 

[Kurt]

Sand fleas - they are harmless and make good bait for pompano.

 

[missourigrl]

Sand fleas - they are harmless and make good bait for pompano.

That's definitely what we saw.

 

[AndrewG]

Walmart sells them frozen for bait.