DOINews: USGS Leetown Science Center Studying Invasive Giant African Land Snail

The giant African land snail is an invasive species that has been shown to harbor numerous pathogens responsible for diseases that can sicken and even kill wildlife, domestic animals and humans. They also consume over 500 different species of plants, including many of agricultural significance!

Calcium is necessary for shell development. To obtain calcium, snails have been found eating stucco and paint off of the houses in southern Florida. In the continental U.S. these snails are mainly in the Miami area. These snails are serial spawners and each one can potentially produce thousands of eggs in their lifetime. They are a hardy species that can hibernate up to a year, so they aren't climate limited to the degree of many invasive species.