Taxonomy
Orconectes limosus
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Least concern
Legal status
Third Schedule listed species under Regulations 49 & 50 in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. (Note: Regulation 50 not yet enacted).
Listed as a schedule 9 species under Articles 15 & 15A of the Wildlife Order (Northern Ireland) 1985 (Article 15A not yet enacted).
Regulated invasive species of Union concern under the European Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species [1143/2014].
Invasiveness
Invasive species - risk of High Impact
Introduction pathways - 1
Escape from Confinement
Introduction pathways subclass - 1
Pet/aquarium species
Introduction pathways - 2
Release in Nature
Introduction pathways subclass - 2
Fishing in the wild
Invasive score
22
NAPRA Ireland risk assessed
Yes. This species underwent a Non-native species APplication based Risk Analysis in 2014.
Overall risk of this species to Ireland is categorised as: MAJOR with a VERY HIGH level of confidence.
Overall conclusion summary: This crayfish species has the potential to seriously threaten the conservation of the native White-clawed Crayfish populations in Ireland. . In addition, native biodiversity and ecosystem function are likely to be threatened if abundant populations establish in the wild in Ireland. Furthermore, this non-native crayfish species could interfere with bank stability, and reduce the value of commercial and recreational fisheries.
View the full risk assessment: http://nonnativespecies.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Orconectes-limosus-Spiny-cheek-Crayfish1.pdfSpecies Biology
Identification
Freshwater crayfish with distinctive spiny cheeks, reaching up to 11cm long (Aldridge, 2006). Usually coloured dark brown to olive green (may appear from living in anoxic sediments) with reddish stripes across the abdominal segements. Light yellow colour under the body (Holdich & Black, 2007, Holdich & Sibley, 2009). The underside of the claws have orange tips with a black band below (Buglife, undated).
Ecology
Ideal habitat conditions for this species are calm turbid waters but they will tolerate fast flowing waters (NNSS, 2011). Cold, polluted and euthrophic waters are within the physiological tolerances of this invasive species giving it a broad range of habitats in which it can thrive (Aldridge, 2006). In dry spells, when water levels drop, Orconectes limosus digs a burrow and waits for conditions to become more favourable (Holdich & Black, 2007).
Their burrowing activities can destabilize river/lake banks leading to erosion (Aldridge, 2006) and reducing water quality (NNSS, 2011). A combination of high fecundity and rapid growth means large populations can develop rapidly (Holdich & Sibley, 2009) and this omnivore may outcompete the native white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) for resources. They are known carriers of Crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci) (Holdich & Sibley, 2009) which can decimate native crayfish populations. Their sheer numbers may interfere with fish spawning sites (NNSS, 2011).
They may be predated by coots (Fulica atra), herons (Ardea cinerea), perch (Perca fluviatilis), pike (Esox lucius), otter (Lutra lutra), mink (Mustela vison) and eels (Anguilla anguilla) (Holdich & Black, 2007; Reynolds & O'Keefe, undated).
Habitat
Freshwater
Reproduction
The females produce >300 eggs in spring (Holdich & Black, 2006). They are carried for 1-3 weeks and hatch into independent juvenile crayfish in May or June (Aldridge, 2016). Reach sexual maturity early at 18 months of age (NNSS, 2011) and can live for 4 years (Aldridge, 2016).
Pathway and vector description
Mechanism of impact
Competition, Disease transmission
Management approach
There are no effective methods for control or eradication of crayfish at present (NNSS, 2011).
Trapping
Currently trapping is most used but juveniles don't often enter the traps and the adults are very wary making them difficult to trap (Holdich & Black, 2006).
Chemical
Biocides can be used but they are expensive and cannot be used in flowing water (NNSS, 2011).
Broad environment
Freshwater
Habitat description
Freshwater rivers, lakes, canals, ponds, waterfilled gravel pits and substantial streams. They have a preference for turbid calm conditions. (NNSS, 2011).
Species group
Invertebrate
Native region
North America
Similar species
Austropotamobius papilles (White-clawed crayfish). A. papilles is brown to olive coloured, sometimes blueish and the underside of the claws are whiteish (National Biodiversity Data Centre, undated).
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Has been introduced to 19 EU member states – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom (European Commission, 2017).
Native distribution
East coast of the U.S.A.
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.
How can you help
Report any sightings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
Do not purchase or dispose of in the wild.
References
Publications
Aldridge, D (2016) Spinycheek crayfish, Orconectes limosus. Factsheet. Non-native Species Secretariat (NNSS). http://www.nonnativespecies.org/factsheet/downloadFactsheet.cfm?speciesId=2441 Site accessed 6 October 2017.
Alekhnovich, A., Buric, M. (2017): NOBANIS – Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet – Orconectes limosus. – From : Online Database of the European Network on Invasive Alien Species – NOBANIS www.nobanis.org Site accessed 6 October 2017.
Buglife (undated) Crayfish identification, distribution and legislation. Leaflet produced for Buglife and the Environment Agency. Buglife, Plymouth https://www.buglife.org.uk/crayfish-for-professionals Site accessed 9 October 2017.
European Commission. (2017). Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern. European Union, Luxembourg.
European Environment Agency (EEA) (2012). The impacts of invasive alien species in Europe. Technical report No 16/2012. EEA, Copenhagen. 114 p. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/impacts-of-invasive-alien-species Site accessed 6 October 2017.
Hobbs, HH (1948) On the cray-fishes of the limosus section of the genus Orconectes (Decapoda, Astacidae) Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. 38 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/search?searchTerm=orconectes+limosus#/sections Site accessed 6 October 2017.
Holdich, D & Black, J (2006) The spiny-cheek crayfish, Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) [Crustacea: Decapoda: Cambaridae], digs into the UK. Aquatic Invasions 2 (1) pp. 1-15, http://www.aquaticinvasions.net/2007/AI_2007_2_1_Holdich_Black.pdf Site accessed 6 October 2017.
Holdich D.M. & Sibley P.J. (2009) ICS and NICS in Britain in the 2000s; Brickland J., Holdich D.M. and Imhoff E.M. (eds) (2009). Crayfish conservation in the British Isles. Proceedings of a conference held on 25th March 2009 in Leeds, UK. http://www.crayfish.ro/anexe/Crayfish_conservation_UK-2009.pdf Site accessed 9 October 2017.
Millane, M. & Caffrey, J. (2014) Risk Assessment of Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque 1817) – Spiny-cheek Crayfish. Prepared for Inland Fisheries Ireland and the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
National Biodiversity Data Centre (undated) Crayfish identification. Handout. http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/CrayfishID-photos.pdf Site accessed 9 October 2017.
Non-native Species Secretariat (NNSS) (2011) Rick assessment for Orconectes limosus – Spiny-cheek crayfish. Risk assessment carried out for Great Britain. http://www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm?pageid=143 Site accessed 6 October 2017.
Pavlovic, S; Miloševic, S; Borkovic, S; Simic, V; Paunovic, M; Žikic, R & Saicic, Z (2006) A Report of Orconectes (Faxonius) limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) [Crustacea: Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae: Orconectes: Subgenus Faxonius] in the Serbian Part of the River Danube, Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 20 (1) pp. 53-56, DOI:10.1080/13102818.2006.10817304. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13102818.2006.10817304?needAccess=true Site accessed 6 October 2017.
Reynolds, JD & O'Keefe, C (2009) Protect Irish Crayfish. Leaflet. National Parks and Wildlife Service. Dublin. https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/Crayfish_leaflet.pdf Site accessed 6 October 2017.