USDA - APHIS - Plant Health, Plant Protection and Quarantine

Giant African Snail

There are several species of exotic snails considered to be serious pests of plants and threats to public health. Recent information suggests that one or more of these species in the giant African snail group are being sold in pet stores or traded by exotic animal dealers. The origin of these snails is likely through illegal importation. The purpose of this pest alert is to ask the for public's assistance in identifying these snails and to convey the importance of reporting the existence of these snails in the United States. If the snails were to become established in the general environment, they could cause serious damage to plants, both in urban settings and in the natural landscape. They also may carry a parasite that can infect people.

Scientists consider the giant African snail, Lissachatina fulica, to be one of the most damaging snails in the world. It is known to eat at least 500 different types of plants, including breadfruit, cassava, cocoa, papaya, peanut, rubber, and most varieties of beans, peas, cucumbers, and melons. Believed to be originally from East Africa, L. fulica has established itself throughout the IndoPacific Basin, including the Hawaiian islands. This mollusk has also been introduced to the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Recently, L. fulica infestations were detected on Saint Lucia and Barbados. The island of Saint Martin has been infested since 1995. It is believed that the Dutch side, Saint Maarten, became infested shortly thereafter.

In 1966, a Miami, FL, boy smuggled three giant African snails into south Florida upon returning from a trip to Hawaii. His grandmother eventually released the snails into her garden. Seven years later, more than 18,000 snails had been found along with scores of eggs. The Florida State eradication program took 10 years at a cost of $1 million.

See our Pest Alert (PDF) for more information about L. fulica. More detailed life history information about this and the other giant African snail species is linked below*:

Lissachatina fulica (Giant African Snail)

Environmental Information
Program Information
Additional Information on Rat Lungworm Nematode
New Pest Response Guideline (April 23, 2007)
Outreach Materials

Species Information

Achatina achatina (PDF; 137 Kb)
Archachatina marginata (PDF; 120 Kb)
Limicolaria aurora (PDF; 59 Kb)

Additional Information

If you see a snail that looks like the giant African snail, please report it to your State Department of Agriculture or the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) office. See the following URL for contacts in your state: http://pest.ceris.purdue.edu/directory.php?list=SPHD
For information on agricultural permits required to import snails and slugs visit: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/permits/snails_slugs.shtml
For additional information on Giant African Snail:
http://www.freshfromflorida.com/

Contacts:
Andrea Simao
Telephone: (301) 851-2067
E-mail: Andrea.B.Simao@aphis.usda.gov