Sunday, May 30, 2010

Crawdad


 I know this creature is not an insect, but it definitely qualifies as an arthropod, which puts it in the same phylum as insects. I thought it would be fun for a change to feature a new animal with an exoskeleton, that does not have 6 legs or wings.

Crawdad, crayfish, crawfish, or mudbugs are common names for these lobster-like crustaceans. In Missouri the favored name seems to be Crawdad. The ones pictured here I believe are examples of a crawdad called "Northern Crayfish". These guys can vary considerably in their coloration. This particular one had beautiful blue pinchers with reddish-orange tips. The baby in the middle picture is a juvenile example of the same species.


Crawdads are in one of two superfamilies, either Astacoidea or Parastacoidea. They are closely related to the lobsters they resemble, and even taste a bit like them too. They are found in pond, lakes, streams and creeks with sheltered areas that allow them to hide from predators. Looking under rocks submerged near the shore of ponds will almost always produce at least one crawdad. Crawdads generally cannot tolerate polluted waters, and therefore may be considered an indicator species. They can help "Indicate" whether or not the water where they reside is healthy. If there is a lack of crawdads present, or if many dead specimens are found then it may indicate there is a problem with that water source. The study of crayfish is called astacology.


 Crawdads are commonly used as bait for catching fish such as catfish, bass, pike and muskie. This preference for using crawdads as bait can cause ecological problems. Many of the crawdads sold as bait in "Bait & Tackle" stores are not native, such as the "Rusty Crayfish". When irresponsible fishermen have leftover bait and throw them out they can reproduce and take over the areas where they are released and push native species out. In some areas they have all but replaced native species of clearwater crayfish. An extended problem from releasing bait crawdads is that sometimes zebra mussels attach themselves to the crawdads and are also released into new areas that allows them to take over. It is always best to bring bait back home with you and dispose of it, never throw it in the waters where you've been fishing.

Crayfish flourish in waters 55 to 60 degrees F. They shed their exoskeletons in proportion to their rate of growth, as often as three or four times a year. The average life expectancy for a crawdad is about three years, but the "granddaddies" may live to be seven or eight.

Crawdads are used as a food source throughout the World. They taste very much like lobster. A common myth is that a crawdads with a straight tail died before it was boiled and is not safe to eat. In reality, crawdads that died before boiling can have curled tails as well as straight, as can those that were alive, and may very well be fine to eat. Boiled crawdads which died before boiling are safe to eat if they were kept chilled before boiling and were not dead for a long time. (This does not mean that a sack of crawdads that are all dead should be boiled.) A much better test than the straight tail as to the edibility of any crawdads is the tail meat itself; if it is mushy, it is usually an indication that it should be avoided.

I have eaten crawdads and can vouch for their tastiness. They are commonly used in Cajun recipes. Anyone who loves seafood will surely love them as well.



Here are some recipes:

 The amount of crayfish needed for a serving varies according to the size and variety captured. As a general rule only, 12 medium-sized crayfish (six to seven inches long) are sufficient for one serving; one pound of crayfish; liveweight, is equal to one cup of meat, using tails and claws; and one cup of crawfish meat will usually serve from two to six, depending on the recipe and amount of other ingredients.

Crawfish Ettouffee
2 1/2 lbs. crawfish tails
1 stick margarine
3 large onions, finely chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
Saute onions in margarine about 15 to 20 minutes until soft. Add crawfish fat (from the body cavity) and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until fat comes to the top. Add tail meat and season the taste. Add just enough hot water to etouffee for desired consistency. Simmer

Crawfish Salad
2 cups boiled crawfish meat, diced
1 cup celery, chopped
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
2 T. dill pickles, chopped
1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce
mayonnaise
salt and pepper
Combine all ingredients thoroughly and mix with mayonnaise to desired consistency. Season to taste. Serve on bed of shredded lettuce. Serves 4.


 Crawfish Pilaf
2 cups cooked rice
1/2 cup stuffed olives, sliced
1 small onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
3 cups cooked crawfish meat
4 T. flour
2 cups milk
3 T. melted butter
Combine rice, olives, onion, green pepper, crayfish meat and most of the grated cheese together in a well-greased casserole. Make a medium white sauce of flour, butter and milk, and season to taste. Pour over casserole and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until top is brown. Serves 6.


8 comments:

  1. I first ate Crawfish in Louisiana Many years ago they are usually bigger than the ones here in Missouri. We have also caught and ate the crawdads here in Mo but they don't taste the same as the ones from La. But Crawfish Etouffee is Good stuff!

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  2. I've eaten crawfish etouffee and it is wonderful.
    The agents where I work have a big crawdad boil once in awhile, complete with corn on the cob. It is delicious that way too.

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  3. Never eaten them but hunted them for fun as a boy growing up in Iowa. I think we used em for fishing bait here and there but mostly just let em go.
    What memories. Great write up too.

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  4. I remember looking for them as a child too. We used to put bacon on the end of a string and stick it down their hole along the creek bank. When they grabbed ahold of the bacon we'd pull em up. We always let them go too. It seems they are a part of childhood for a lot of midwestern kids.

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  5. I noticed in the trout streams i like to go the lacking of crawdads.Sad that the water is going downhill.Caught them as a kid, we used a piece of bologna on a string.

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  6. That shot with the flowers is too cute. Crayfish are the one thing we'd dread while walking barefoot in the creeks in Northern California when I was a kid. Never happened to me, though. Just frozen feet and fun. Interesting post. Honk if you love inverts!

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  7. I think crawdads are amazing creatures, and so pretty. I put this crazy crawdad on a log and had to chase it around and keep putting back to get pictures. Got pinched once, didn't hurt too bad. Our pond is loaded with them. Seem every rock you turn over has one under it.

    Honk honk honk......

    I have a bumper sticker on my car that says..are you ready for this?

    "I brake for dung beetles"

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  8. Prairie----these guys always bring back fond memories from childhood too. We used bacon instead of bologna. Good thing my mother never knew...LOL Sorry to hear that the water quality is declining in your creek....that is sad.

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