“Giant African snail” is the 

common name used to describe 

several foreign snail species 

that could become serious 

agricultural pests in the United 

States. The most important giant 

African snail is Lissachatina 

fulica (formerly Achatina fulica). 

The Giant African Snail

Scientists consider L. fulica to 

be one of the most damaging 

land snails in the world. It is 

known to feed on at least 

500 different types of plants, 

including peanuts, beans, peas, 

cucumbers, and melons. If 

fruits and vegetables are not 

available, they will eat a wide 

variety of ornamental plants, tree 

bark, and even paint and stucco 

on houses. 

L. fulica is established 

throughout the Indo-Pacific 

basin, from east Africa to 

Hawaii and Guam, including 

the Southern Asian region. This 

mollusk has been introduced 

to several Caribbean islands 

including Anguilla, Antigua, 

Aruba, Barbados, Cuba, 

Dominica, Dominican Republic, 

Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles, 

Marie-Galante, Martinique, Saint 

Lucia, Saint Martin, and Trinidad. 

It is also widespread in several 

South American countries and, 

in 2016, was reported in Spain 

for the first time.

Pest Alert

Giant African Snails

Florida and the Giant 

African Snail

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 adult snails were 

found, along with thousands of 

eggs. It took 10 years and cost 

$1 million to eradicate the pest 

in Florida.

In September 2011, a resident 

of Miami found a snail and

contacted the Florida Department 

of Agriculture and Consumer 

Services. This action resulted 

in the State’s second giant 

African snail detection. The 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) and Florida have 

invested several million dollars 

since this second detection, 

and work continues today to 

eradicate this pest.

Description/Life Cycle

Reaching almost 8 inches 

(20 centimeters) in length and 

5 inches (13 centimeters) in 

diameter, L. fulica is one of the 

world’s largest land snails—

about the size of an average 

adult fist. When fully grown, 

its shell consists of seven to 

nine whorls, with a long and 

greatly swollen body whorl. The 

brownish shell with darker brown 

lengthwise stripes covers at 

least half the length of the snail.

Each snail contains both 

female and male reproductive 

organs. After a single mating, 

each snail can produce 100 

to 500 eggs. These snails can 

reproduce several more times 

without mating again. They can 

generate clutches of eggs every 

2 to 3 months.

Although this species thrives in 

tropical and subtropical areas, 

it can survive in cold conditions. 

In winter in the Northern United 

States, the snail would become 

slow and sluggish, almost 

hibernating until warmer 

weather returned.

Figure 1. A mature Lissachatina fulica

maneuvers in its environment.

Figure 2. A penny is used to show the size of 

giant African snail eggs.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine
Distribution

Like other invasive pests and 

diseases, giant African snails 

can hitchhike into the United 

States on imported cargo. 

People are also known to bring 

snails into the country illegally 

to keep as classroom exhibits 

or pets or to use as food or for 

ceremonial purposes. 

Damage

Giant African snails cause 

extensive damage to crops and 

plants in tropical and subtropical 

areas. These snails are also 

known to carry organisms that 

can cause diseases in humans 

and livestock. People can get 

sick from ingesting improperly 

cooked snail meat or by handling 

live snails and then touching 

their eyes, nose, or mouth.

Control

Because of the potential damage 

these snails can cause, they are 

illegal in the United States. If you 

have a giant African snail, do not 

release it into the environment 

or give it away. Instead, 

immediately report it to your 

State department of agriculture 

or to the USDA Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS) office in your State. 

For a list of APHIS offices, 

go to www.aphis.usda.gov/

planthealth/sphd.

Learn More

For more information on giant 

African snails, visit the APHIS 

website at www.aphis.usda.gov/

plant-health/gas.

Figure 4. Shell of an immature giant African 

snail. 

Figure 3. Giant African snail infestation on the 

Caribbean island of Saint Lucia.

Figure 5. USDA technician holds giant African 

snail shells found during a pest survey.

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender.

APHIS 81-35-009

Issued July 2004

Slightly revised May 2018