What is the beach bug in sand?

Sand fleas are also commonly known as beach fleas, land shrimp, sand hoppers, or beach hoppers. They get their name because they jump like fleas and can be tricky to catch, but not because they bite like fleas. In fact, they don't bite at all since they're not insects but in the same family as crabs and lobsters.



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Sand flea bites. Sometimes, not always, the female sand flea lays her eggs underneath the skin; the large welts will have a black dot in the center. If that happens, you should seek medical attention because the black dot indicates eggs have been laid.

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The adult female sand flea burrows into the skin and grows 2000 times in size as eggs develop. The female flea typically lives for 4–6 weeks, during which the eggs are expelled and fall to the ground.

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There are over 90 species of this species in the United States, and they are widespread throughout the coasts of North America. Typically, they reside around or slightly above the high water mark. They hide throughout the day in tunnels dug into the sand or beneath seaweed that has washed up on the coast.

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You probably won't notice when the female sand flea first enters your skin. Once it burrows into your skin, you may see a white circle that looks like a ring or halo with a black dot in the center. Over time, the black dot grows as the sand flea gorges on blood and gets bigger with eggs.

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