The Bulimulus sporadicus snail that has caused serious issues in Florida citrus groves by blocking sprinkler jets and drip emitters has been detected in Australia.
Staff working at an Approved Arrangement (AA) site at the Port of Brisbane recently reported a suspected detection of B. sporadicus, also known as B. bonariensis, ghost snail or peanut snail. Following the AA report, federal biosecurity officers carried out further surveillance in the surrounding area, including in drains, garden beds and a demountable building. The search was later extended to nearby properties, where more snails were found.
Traps have been set across the area. As of mid-June, 350 specimens have been collected, and surveillance is ongoing.
Native to South America, B. sporadicus has spread internationally by hitching rides on shipping containers and through illegal smuggling for the pet trade.
Although it may cause some feeding damage to citrus fruit, this snail is mainly considered a nuisance pest — particularly because of its tendency to clog irrigation equipment and infrastructure. The pests may also feed on fruit or tree trunks if the plant is already damaged by pests, disease or physical injury.
In Florida, freeze-damaged citrus trees have been found infested with these snails — sometimes leading to trunk girdling.
Citrus growers — especially those in Queensland’s tropical and subtropical regions with links to the Port of Brisbane — should keep watch for this pest.
Key features include:
- A slim, conical shell which darkens slightly toward the top; the body is tan-colored
- Usually under 30 millimeters long, and often much smaller
- Small, shiny white spherical eggs buried just below the soil surface
- Gathering in unusually large numbers, especially around irrigation lines
Australian growers who think they have found one or more of these snails should quarantine the area and call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline at 1800 084 881.
Learn more about this pest and its management from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Source: Citrus Australia
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