Procambarus acutus is a species complex (Hobbs 1989). Procambarus zonangulus and P. acutus cuevachicae are distinct species that were formerly grouped with P. acutus (Taylor and Schuster 2004).

White River crayfish mate in early spring and fall and extrude their eggs in spring (Taylor and Schuster 2004). Procambarus acutus will burrow during dry summer and fall seasons (Taylor and Schuster 2004). These burrows provide protection to females with eggs (Page 1985, CABI 2015). Although they only spawn once each year, P. acutus have relatively high fecundity. Mazlum and Eversole (2004) found that females may lay as many as 556 eggs depending on size and nutritional status.

P. acutus have a generalist diet and feed opportunistically (CABI, 2015). However, there is little else reported about the White River Crayfish diet overall.

While Hobbs (1989) reports P. acutus in slow to moderate flow streams, this species is also found in a variety of habitats, including rivers, ditches, creeks, and swamps (Taylor and Schuster 2004).

Potential: The White River crawfish has been found to host the adult fluke (Alloglossoides caridicola) which may infect other species if P. acutus are introduced outside of their native range (Turner, 1985). There is little research on the actual effects of P. acutus as an invasive species, but due to their high fecundity, rapid growth rate, large chelae, and large maximum size, they may be superior competitors compared to native crayfish in their introduced range (Distefano, 2015). There is the possibility that they could genetically affect native populations through hybridization if there are native species from the same genus present, though this has not been reported (CABI, 2015).

There is little or no evidence to support that Procambarus acutus has the potential for significant socio-economic impact in the Great Lakes outside of its native range.

Potential: White River crawfish do not pose a hazard to human health. They have not been reported to damage infrastructure or affect water quality. There are no records of them harming markets or economic sectors in their introduced range. P. acutus are a burrowing species, so their burrows do have the potential to affect the perceived aesthetic of the waters they inhabit. However, this has not been reported, and would likely only occur at extremely high densities.

There is little or no evidence to support that Procambarus acutus has the potential for significant beneficial impact in the Great Lakes outside of its native range.

Potential: P. acutus have not been found to act as an effective control agent for any harmful organisms. White River crawfish are employed commercially for aquaculture and fishing bait, but the economic contribution of this activity is small. They do not have any recreational value. These crayfish have not been reported to have any medicinal or research value.

    Control
    Biological
    A University of Wisconsin study observed significant declines in an invasive crayfish population when the WI Department of Natural Resources restricted the harvest of known crayfish predators (Hein et al., 2007).
   
    Physical
    Intensive trapping is a common method used to control crayfish (Moorhouse et al., 2014; Peay and Hiley, 2001). While intensive trapping can be used to substantially reduce crayfish abundance, it has not been found to completely eradicate established crayfish populations (Hein et al. 2007).
   

    Chemical
    Allert et al. (2016) found that a four hour exposure to cypermethrin at 100 μg/Liter had led to 100 percent mortality of juvenile and adult White River Crayfish while this same dose did not cause significant mortality in fathead minnows or virile crayfish.

    Other
    There are no known other control methods for this species.