Ghost crabs now are starting to appear on Galveston Island
Ghost crabs are marching to battle on Galveston Island, helping protect Texas beachgoers from stinging pests.
Galveston Island State Park on Thursday posted a video, taken at night, showing a ghost crab munching on a Portuguese man o’ war, a jellyfish-like animal that many Texans have encountered over the years, to their distress.
“Ghost crabs are opportunistic eaters and will devour just about anything they can get their claws on, including jellyfish and man o’ wars,” park officials said.
Here are a few things to know about ghost crabs:
Diet, night life and more
They got their name because they’re most active at night, and are generally pale, like ghosts.
Ghost crabs are considered harmless to humans.
Some experts contend their claws can deliver a sharp pinch.
But because ghost crabs are mostly nocturnal and tend to shy away from humans, odds are a beachgoer won’t be able to confirm that from personal experience.
Can you eat ghost crabs?
In theory, you can eat ghost crabs. But you probably shouldn’t.
Their bodies are small, maxing out at perhaps three inches, containing barely a mouthful of meat. And, as noted, a ghost crab’s diet includes Portuguese man o’ wars, which are known to be a beach hazard.
“While they look beautiful sparkling in the sun, they pack a horribly painful sting,” the Houston Chronicle reported in 2021.
But while ghost crabs are not the most delectable choice for people, that doesn’t mean no one eats ghost crabs.
Sheepshead love them and those looking to catch the fish sometimes use ghost crabs as bait.