Page 39 - Silver Lakes April 2021

NATURE

infestation under control, when weather
conditions improve, out they pop again.
WHY ARE THEY SUCH A THREAT TO
HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT?
• They are voracious feeders, consuming
around 500 different species of plants.
Not only do they climb into and
devastate agricultural crops such as
coffee, cocoa and rubber plantations,
they also love fruit, vegetables, nuts and
grains. They are known to eat the bark
and stems of trees, seaweed, lichens,
fungi and even other snails.
• Because they need calcium for their
shells, they are capable of eating the
plaster off buildings, as well as sand,
concrete and even bones.
• They are hosts to a number of parasites,
including Angiostrongylus cantonensis,
a nematode (roundworm) that causes
eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in
humans.
HOW CAN ONE ERADICATE AND DISPOSE
OF THEM?
• The first message here comes across
loudly and clearly – DO NOT SIMPLY
THROW THEM IN YOUR RUBBISH
DESTINED FOR LANDFILL! Giant African Land Snail (Achatina fulica) in Hyderabad
• Spraying them with vinegar is

suggested, or sprinkling them with
Little achatina. Photo by Timur V. Voronkov Diatomaceous earth could be a solution.
• Surround your plants with rings of
wheat bran or corn bran – you can buy
these products from health food stores.
They are eaten by slugs and snails
and the ingested bran then causes
desiccation and death. This is a totally
organic solution, and if wildlife eat the
corpses, they are getting extra nutrition.
However, you need to replenish the
bran regularly in rainy weather.
• Although this has not been discussed in
any of the research material available,
speaking as a true South African male, I
would suggest incinerating them along
with any eggs that you find. And then
burying the ash under a reasonable
layer of soil in a corner of the garden.

Whatever you do, with the Giant African
Land Snail featuring prominently on
the list of Top 100 Most Invasive Species
in the World, it’s recommended that the
handling (using suitable gloves and other
protection) and disposal of these ‘cute
snails on steroids’ should be done with
caution.

Resources:
www.aphis.usda.gov
www.cabi.org
www.biokids.umichu.edu

Achatina fulica eggs. Photo by Ken Walker, Museum Victoria INTRA MUROS APRIL 2021 37