Look out, Pasco: Here come giant African land snails

[Still Waters]

A gardener in Pasco County recently found a giant African land snail—or what Florida officials call "one of the most damaging snails in the world."

The giant African land snail gobbles up plants and can carry a parasite known to give people meningitis, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The state last week confirmed the sighting. The snail was found in the New Port Richey area. The agency said it would start putting snail bait on properties within about 600 feet of where the snail was spotted.

The snails can grow to be about the size of a fist, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They eat many plants, including peas, beans and cucumbers. But if they can't find enough vegetation, the federal agency says, giant African land snails will eat paint or stucco off a house.

https://phys.org/news/2022-06-pasco-giant-african-snails.html

[Still Waters]

More than 1,000 invasive giant African snails captured in Florida

Agriculture officials say they've captured more than 1,000 giant African land snails from Pasco County since the invasive pest—"one of the most damaging snails in the world"—was first detected around New Port Richey in late June.

"Let me assure you: We will eradicate these snails," Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried told reporters at a news conference Thursday.

They've been found on 29 properties, officials said. About 900 have been collected alive, while nearly 150 were dead. Agriculture officials said the main place they've found the snails so far is around Massachusetts Avenue in New Port Richey.

https://phys.org/news/2022-07-invasive-giant-african-snails-captured.html