Short description of Orconectes limosus, Spinycheek Crayfish

Spiny-cheek crayfish are a small to medium sized crayfish species, the largest specimens reaching just over 11cm long. They have distinctive spiny cheeks, legs with orange tips and striped abdomens, but are often coloured black from the sediment they live in.

Impact summary: Orconectes limosus, Spinycheek Crayfish

If populations increase, spiny-cheek crayfish are likely to cause further declines in native white-clawed crayfish populations. They may affect freshwater food webs by feeding on macrophytes, although extent of impacts is largely unknown. Burrowing could destabilise banks making them unsafe for building or use.

Habitat summary: Orconectes limosus, Spinycheek Crayfish

Spiny-cheek crayfish are found in rivers, wide steams, ponds and lakes, and prefer calm and turbid waters to fast flowing. They are very tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions and are able to cope with polluted canals and organically enriched lakes and ponds.

Overview table

Environment	Freshwater
Species status	Non-Native
Native range	New Brunswick, Québec, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode I., Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia
Functional type	Omnivore
Status in England	Non-Native
Status in Scotland
Status in Wales
Location of first record	catfish pond in Warwickshire, West Midlands
Date of first record	2001

Origin

North America.

First Record

A male spiny-cheek crayfish was purchased from an aquarium in southern England in 1995, and the first wild individual was found in a garden in East Sussex a few years later. The first established population was found in a catfish pond in Warwickshire in 2001. A second population was found 5km downstream in the River Arrow in 2002.

Pathway and Method

The spiny-cheek crayfish was intentionally introduced in mainland Europe to supplement dwindling native crayfish populations. It is likely that the first individuals in GB escaped from aquaria or were introduced into ponds by anglers to provide food for fish. Individuals could also have been transferred in consignments of fish from farms or from use as fish bait.

Species Status

Spiny-cheek crayfish were first introduced into Germany in 1890 and have since spread to at least 20 European countries. They have not yet reached the Iberian Peninsula or Scandinavia, and have only recently invaded GB, although several populations are now well established in England. There are a number of populations in the River Lee catchment in north London, and ponds in Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

Dispersal Mechanisms

Once introduced into waterways spiny-cheek crayfish can easily disperse up or downstream, or be carried by currents or flooding to new habitats. They can also disperse across land to nearby waterways, or may be transferred by predators such as birds. Deliberate introduction by anglers for fish food or bait has allowed spiny-cheek crayfish to colonise new and disparate sites in the UK.

Reproduction

High fecundity, rapid maturation and reproduction give spiny-cheek crayfish high invasive potential. They mate in the spring and females lay up to 372 eggs (average 138) in AprilMay. They carry their eggs for 1-3 weeks, before hatching in May or June. A second mating period is sometimes observed in autumn, which allows sperm to be stored to produce young in early spring. The young mature in their second summer. Average life span is 2 years, although some live up to 4 years.

Known Predators/Herbivores

Large fish, such as carp, may eat the spiny-cheek crayfish. Coots have been observed attacking crayfish and it is likely that herons, cormorants and wildfowl may also predate them.

Resistant Stages

Adults are tolerant of low temperatures, dry conditions and water pollution. They are able to dig burrows and lie dormant when water levels fall and conditions are unfavourable.

Habitat Occupied in GB

Found at scattered lake, pond and river sites where introductions have been made by anglers and pet owners.

Environmental Impact

Spiny-cheek crayfish have decreased indigenous crayfish populations in Europe through competition for resources and by acting as a vector for crayfish plague. If the spiny-cheek crayfish spreads in GB, native white-clawed crayfish populations will be severely threatened. They are known to eat macrophytes and are likely to have significant impacts on freshwater food webs, but this is not yet fully known.

Health and Social Impact

None known.

Economic Impact

Burrowing by crayfish may destabilise river banks causing damage to buildings or endangering livestock grazing nearby.

Identification

Biology, ecology, spread, vectors

Kozak, P., Buric, M. and Policar, T. (2006) The fecundity, time of egg development and juvenile production in spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) under controlled conditions. Bull. Fr. Peche Piscic., 380-381, 1171-1182.

Parvulescu, L., Palos, C. & Molnar, P. (2009) First record of the spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus in Romania. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 5(2), 424-428.

Puky, M. (2009) Confirmation of the presence of the spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus in Slovakia. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 5(1), 214-217.

Management and impact

Peay. S. (2009) Invasive non-indigenous crayfish species in Europe: Recommendations on managing them. Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, 394-395, 03.

General

Duris, Z. et al. (2006) Biometry and demography of the invasive crayfish Orconectes limosus in the Czech Republic. Bull. Fr. Peche Piscic. 380-381, 1215-1228.

 Holdich, D. & Black, J. (2007) The spiny-cheek crayfish, Orconectes limosus, digs into the UK. Aquatic Invasions, 2(1), 1-15.

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