After the bedbug crisis in France, people in the United Kingdom have recently been asked to report sightings of the Chinese mitten crabs, an invasive species in the UK whose population is seen to be growing.

Chinese mitten crab is native to East Asia, named for its furry, mitten-like claws. 

According to UK's media, the species was first spotted in the UK in 1973 in the Thames River and has since become established in waters around the country. More recently, a flurry of crabs has been seen scurrying around waterways in Cambridgeshire. Cases of sightings also happened in Peterborough.

As the species does not belong to the local ecosystem and lacks natural enemies, once it enters the wild, its population tends to grow rapidly. The Chinese mitten crabs can wreak havoc on the environment by burrowing into river beds, blocking waterways and damaging fishing gear with their sharp claws. Besides, too many Chinese mitten crabs will also compete with native species for resources, and native species might die out because of the competition.

The news of the Chinese mitten crab invasion soon went viral on China's social media where discussions have mainly revolved around how to assist the British people in dealing with these invasive crabs. Since October is one of the best seasons to consume Chinese mitten crab, many shared their recipes for cooking the crab, such as steaming and serving the meat with ginger and vinegar. However, numerous netizens in the UK expressed fear of the crab, particularly its furry claws. Additionally, experts have issued warnings that wild Chinese mitten crabs might contain poisonous heavy metals, making them unsafe for consumption.

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