Rusty Crayfish (Faxonius rusticus)
Native range: The rusty crayfish (formerly in the genus Orconectes) is native to the U.S., belonging to the Ohio River Basin specifically.
Invasive range: Although the rusty crayfish is native to the U.S., its invasive range includes the Great Lakes and eastern U.S. (including Connecticut), as well as interspersed through the west.
Method of introduction: The rusty crayfish is thought to have been introduced as fishing bait, but it is unknown whether its introduction was initially intentional. It may have also been introduced as a way of controlling a weed.
Impacts: The rusty crayfish is known to out compete native crayfish for food, forcing them to move elsewhere. It is also a threat to a number of threatened or endangered species, such as the queen snake and some species of bivalves in the northeast United States.
Identification: These crayfish are greenish-brown in color, with a brown spot on each side. They are rather small, reaching a maximum length of around 4 inches.
Methods of control: Typically physical forms of control are used to manage populations, such as trapping and harvesting. Some chemical pesticides are also being investigated, but they do not target only rusty crayfish and, thus, could potentially harm native species. The most effective method of control is prevention, through educating the general public about their impacts and careful monitoring.
Invasive range: Although the rusty crayfish is native to the U.S., its invasive range includes the Great Lakes and eastern U.S. (including Connecticut), as well as interspersed through the west.
Method of introduction: The rusty crayfish is thought to have been introduced as fishing bait, but it is unknown whether its introduction was initially intentional. It may have also been introduced as a way of controlling a weed.
Impacts: The rusty crayfish is known to out compete native crayfish for food, forcing them to move elsewhere. It is also a threat to a number of threatened or endangered species, such as the queen snake and some species of bivalves in the northeast United States.
Identification: These crayfish are greenish-brown in color, with a brown spot on each side. They are rather small, reaching a maximum length of around 4 inches.
Methods of control: Typically physical forms of control are used to manage populations, such as trapping and harvesting. Some chemical pesticides are also being investigated, but they do not target only rusty crayfish and, thus, could potentially harm native species. The most effective method of control is prevention, through educating the general public about their impacts and careful monitoring.
Resources:
- Durland Donahou, A., Conard, W., Dettloff, K., Fusaro, A., and Sturtevant, R.. 2018 April 9. Faxonius rusticus (Girard, 1852). U.S. Geological Survey: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. [accessed 2019 April 28]. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=214.
- 2019. Species profile: Orconectes rusticus. Global Invasive Species Database. [accessed 2019 April 28]. http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=217.
Images Courtesy of:
1. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Accessed from: Durland Donahou, A., Conard, W., Dettloff, K., Fusaro, A., and Sturtevant, R.. 2018 April 9. Faxonius rusticus (Girard, 1852). U.S. Geological Survey: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. [accessed 2019 April 28]. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=214.
2. & 3. Richerson, Myriah and Amy Benson, USGS. Accessed from: 2019. Species profile: Orconectes rusticus. Global Invasive Species Database. [accessed 2019 April 28]. http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=217.
1. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Accessed from: Durland Donahou, A., Conard, W., Dettloff, K., Fusaro, A., and Sturtevant, R.. 2018 April 9. Faxonius rusticus (Girard, 1852). U.S. Geological Survey: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. [accessed 2019 April 28]. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=214.
2. & 3. Richerson, Myriah and Amy Benson, USGS. Accessed from: 2019. Species profile: Orconectes rusticus. Global Invasive Species Database. [accessed 2019 April 28]. http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=217.