Demon shrimp confirmed as present in Ireland

An Invasive Species Alert has been issued for Demon shrimp as it is confirmed as present in Ireland.
It was first recognized on 30 September 2025 in the Shannon River below Lough Derg by Dr. Dan Minchin.
  • The demon shrimp (Dikerogammarus haemobaphes) is a predator and likely to reduce native and non-native amphipod populations that are already present in Lough Derg. 
  • It may have an impact on other bottom fauna that include insects. 
  • It is tolerant of temperatures to 30˚ C and comes from a region where there are cold winters. As a result, conditions in the Lough Derg region are likely to enable its continued spread and establishment elsewhere. 
  • The presence of the invasive quagga mussel has provided a habitat for this amphipod. Such is the abundance of the quagga mussel that the demon shrimp is likely to expand rapidly.  

 

Please share the alert with the call to action to follow the Check Clean Dry code to help prevent spread of this and other invasive species to other waterbodies: https://invasives.ie/biosecurity/check-clean-dry