Chaoshan soil shrimp, like cement, is a creature living in dry soil. Soil shrimp feed on plant roots and are usually found under the soil of potatoes and other crops. The front paws of soil shrimp are relatively large, and the shrimp shell is gray.

Soil shrimp that feed on plant roots and soil are regarded as pests. In the past, in potato producing areas such as North China, farmers often organized activities to eliminate native shrimps in late spring and early summer.

Because of its strong adaptability, soil shrimp will hibernate on its own in harsh environment. Once it breaks out, it will be a disaster. The famine in the Soviet Union a few years ago was largely due to crop failure caused by a large number of native shrimps eating potatoes.