Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

Giant African snail (050)

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Photo 1. Giant African snail, Lissachatina fulica, in this case the shell is brown with light brown stripes.

Photo 2. Giant African snail, Lissachatina fulica, sheltering under a rock by day to prevent dehydration.

Photo 3. Giant African snails, Lissachatina fulica, on banana.

Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. GAS eats many vegetables, ornamentals and tree crops. An important pest.
  • Feeds at night; by day, under stones, logs, and leaves.
  • Eggs laid in batches (200-300) under soil and on logs.
  • Spreads on slime from “foot”; long-distance spread by humans: eggs in pot plants, sawdust, vehicles, shipping containers, moved as pets. Carries the rat lung worm.
  • Natural enemies: avoid predatory snails, flatworms, (a threat to local fauna); use Indian runner ducks.
  • Cultural control: bare earth or sand, 1.5 m wide around plots; collect, boil 1h, feed to pigs; ducks; awareness programs.
  • Chemical control: metaldehyde and methiocarb not recommended due to human and environmental concern

Common Name

Giant African snail

Scientific Name

Lissachatina fulica, previously known as Achatina fulica

Photo 4. Eggs of the giant African snail, Lissachatina fulica.

Photo 5. Excreta of the giant African snail, Lissachatina fulica.

AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information from CABI (2020) Achatina fulica (giant African land snail) Cop Protection Compendium.  (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/2640); and Walker K (2005) Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica): PaDIL - http://www.padil.gov.au; and Giant African snail (2019) Business Queensland. Queensland Government. (https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/crop-growing/priority-pest-disease/giant-african-snail); and from Waterhouse DF, Norris KR (1987) Achatina fulica Bowdich. Biological Control Pacific Prospects. Inkata Press.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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