New Pest on the Block: Mantis Shrimp

An aggressive competitor with a dangerous but impressive 'karate chop' ability to stun its prey, the Japanese mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) lives in burrows in the sand and mud. It's a damaging species that's hard to trap, and in large numbers it leaves no space or food for other native crab and shrimp species.

The Japanese mantis shrimp is known to exist in the following locations in Northland, Auckland and the Bay of Plenty:

• Hokianga Harbour
• Mangonui Harbour
• Whangaroa Harbour
• Bay of Islands
• Whangarei Harbour
• Kaipara Harbour
• Tauranga Harbour
• Waitemata Harbour
• Whitianga
• Raglan Harbour
• Ohiwa Harbour

We don't want this invasive species to spread any further! If you find it outside any of these areas, please report it. 

How to identify a Japanese mantis shrimp:

• Has red-maroon line running down its body
• Outer edges of tail are blue and yellow
• Native species has grey and yellow edges on tail
• Can grow up to 19cm

Click here for a full list of marine pest locations; let's work together to keep our seas free of marine pests.