Giant African Land Snails

Reported by the Department of Agriculture September 15, 2011

Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has positively identified a population of Giant African land snails (GALS) in Miami-Dade County. The Giant African land snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world because they consume at least 500 different types of plants, can cause structural damage to plaster and stucco, and can carry a parasitic nematode that can lead to meningitis in humans. 

“Florida faces constant challenges from invasive pests and diseases that arrive through cargo, travelers’ luggage, air currents, and plant and animal agricultural products,” said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. “Enlisting the help of the public in the early detection of these pests and diseases is critical to containing and ultimately eradicating them in our state.”

The Giant African land snail, Achatina fulica, is one of the largest land snails in the world, growing up to eight inches in length and more than four inches in diameter. When full grown, the snail’s brownish shell consists of seven to nine whorls (spirals) that cover at least half the length of its long and greatly swollen body whorl (see photo below).

Each snail can live as long as nine years and contains both female and male reproductive organs. After a single mating session, each snail can produce 100 to 400 eggs. In a typical year, every mated adult lays about 1,200 eggs.

Achatina fulica is originally from East Africa and has established itself throughout the Indo-Pacific Basin, including the Hawaiian Islands. This pest has also been introduced into the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe with recent detections in Saint Lucia and Barbados.

The last reported outbreak and eradication of the Giant African land snail in Florida occurred in 1966 when a boy smuggled three Giant African land snails into Miami as pets.  The boy’s grandmother released the snails into her garden and seven years later, more than 18,000 snails were found costing more than $1 million and taking an additional 10 years to successfully eradicate this pest from Florida.  This is the only known successful giant African land snail eradication program.

Giant African land snails are illegal to import into the United States without a permit and currently no permits have been issued.  Anyone who believes they may have seen a Giant African land snail or signs of its presence should call the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services toll-free at 888-397-1517 to make arrangements to have the snail collected.  To preserve the snail sample, Floridians should use gloves to put the snail in a zip lock bag, seal it and place it in a bucket or plastic container. They are advised not to release or give these samples away.

Take the Bite

Out of Your Backyard

We all want to enjoy the great outdoors, but it’s no fun when you’re pestered by biting mosquitoes, some of which can carry disease. Here are some easy steps you can take to help reduce conditions in your yard that breed these pests. Mosquitoes lay eggs in still, standing water. These eggs hatch into larvae, which turn into biting adults. This whole process from egg to adult might take only seven days! Even a teaspoon of water is enough for pests to breed. That’s why it’s important to tip over items that collect water and prevent standing water from accumulating around your home.

Empty water regularly from:

 Buckets, pails and watering cans

 Planter saucers and flower pots

 Candles and candle holders

 Pet dishes

 Children’s toys

 Ashtrays

Store these items indoors when not in use and change water twice weekly in:

 Bird baths

 Fountains

 Wading pools

Get rid of

 Old tires

 Unused and broken toys

 Trash items

Turn over larger items that collect water or store these items indoors:

 Kiddie pools

 Canoes

 Wheel barrels and garden carts

 Wagons

Tighten up sagging tarps to prevent water from collecting in folds and low areas. Tarps may cover:

 Woodpiles

 Boats

 Jet skis

 Pools

 Patio furniture

 Outdoor grills

Prevent water from collecting by:

 Cleaning gutters of leaves and debris

 Angling downspouts downward, away from the house

 Not using corrugated plastic tubing for downspouts: The grooves hold enough water to breed mosquitoes

 Fixing leaky outdoor faucets

 Eliminating puddles from air conditioning unit condensation

 Making sure rain barrels have tight fitting lids

 Keeping lids on trash cans

Engage in best practices like:

 Maintaining your swimming pool with proper chlorine and water circulation.

 Not overwatering your landscaping.

Heavy mulch watered to saturation in damp, dark areas is an ideal spot for mosquito breeding.

 Aerating ornamental ponds or stocking them with fish that eat mosquito larvae.

 Re-grading low areas to prevent water from collecting on your property. For example, filling tire ruts near driveways and roads with gravel.

Hire a professional to:

 Treat areas like fish ponds, drain tiles, catch basins, and tree hollows and niches with insect growth regulator pellets or granules to keep them from becoming breeding sites.

 Apply a barrier spray during warm months to knock down adult mosquitoes and allow you to enjoy a nearly bite-free outdoor experience.