Giant African land snails put parts of Florida under quarantine


A quarantine zone has popped up in South Florida thanks not to new diseases, but rather something seemingly much more innocuous – and slimy.

The quarantine enacted Tuesday concerns stopping the spread of giant African land snails, one of which was spotted in the Miramar area of Broward County earlier this month, according to a statement from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

Under the quarantine, which spans an area including Pembroke Road and South University Drive in Broward County, it is illegal to remove a giant African land snail from the designated area and to otherwise relocate or move it even within the area.

This rule also applies to relevant plants, soil, compost, yard waste and debris that could harbor the snails or their eggs.

WAIALUA, HI - MAY 18:  A Giant African Snail, native to east Africa, eats vegetation on the Kealea hiking trail May 18, 2004 in Waialua, Hawaii. The Invasive species of snail, also found in parts of Asia, has been known to eat up to 500 different types of plant life, destroying much of the native Hawaiian snail species' habitats. USDA health officials have seized several of the species from Wisconsin classrooms and have started a national search for the creatures as they can spread meningitis trough their mucous.  (Photo by Phil Mislinski/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 50849365 GTY ID:  50849365PM004_Snails

Mosquito seasonsWarmer weather means longer mosquito seasons. List of US cities with the biggest increase

The FDACS will treat the affected area with a pesticide called metaldehyde (AKA “snail bait,”) approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use on crops and in residential areas. The pesticide works by targeting what gives snails and slugs their signature slimy feel, hindering their ability to produce mucus and leading to dehydration, issues with digestion and mobility, and eventually leading to death within days, according to the FDACS.



Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *