Spiny Water Flea

Spiny water fleas entered the Great Lakes in ship ballast water from Europe, arriving in the 1980s. With translucent bodies, only about ¼ to ½ inches in length, individual water fleas may go unnoticed. However, the species gather in masses on fishing lines and downrigger cables, so anglers may be the first to discover a new infestation.

Classification in Wisconsin: Prohibited

Ecological Threat

• Spiny and fishhook water fleas are predators - they eat smaller zooplankton (planktonic animals), including Daphnia. This puts them in direct competition with juvenile fish for food.
• Young fish have trouble eating these water fleas due to their long, spiny tails.
• The spiny and fishhook water fleas produce rapidly through parthenogenesis, commonly known as asexual reproduction, which means that no males are required and populations can explode.

Identification

Body: The spiny water flea has a 1/4"-1/2" long, translucent body, making it hard to spot unless gathered in a large cluster. The species is also characterized by a long spine that extends from its abdomen, giving the reason for its name. In addition, the spiny water flea has a dark black eye that can easily be seen against its contrasting light body.

Distribution

Spiny water fleas were found in the Gile Flowage (Iron County) in 2003, Stormy Lake (Vilas County) in 2007, and the Madison Chain of Lakes (Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Waubesa, and Lake Kegonsa in Dane County) in 2009. See all known locations of spiny water fleas in Wisconsin

Do you know of additional populations? Please send us a report.

Control

Unfortunately, no effective strategy is available to control the spiny water fleas once introduced to lakes.

Resources

Sources for content:

• USGS Spiny Water Flea [exit DNR]