New
Invasive Species Threatens Louisiana
Posted:
10/25/06
An exotic
invasive species of freshwater snail has been discovered in
Louisiana. Several specimens, commonly referred to as the
channeled apple snail, were collected from a canal in Gretna
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, at the request of the Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries.
These
mollusks are known for their voracious appetite for aquatic
vegetation. This group of snails has been a serious pest to
rice farmers in parts of southeast Asia. Away from agricultural
areas, these snails can severely impact native vegetation
altering aquatic habitats.
These
species can be separated from native snails by their size,
up to 4 inches, and their peculiar pink egg masses. The pink
egg masses are attached to vegetation, boat docks or other
structures above the surface of the water. Under ideal conditions
these snails reach maturity in three months and can lay clutches
of eggs, averaging 200 to 300, every few weeks.
LDWF is
asking anyone who finds snails that fit this description to
please contact their nearest LDWF regional office.
Back
to Main
