As of: February 11, 2024, 9:00 a.m
By: Ines Alms
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Apple snails are an undesirable, invasive species.
The invaders can pose a threat to native plants and animals if they spread.
The eggs of the apple snails cannot be overlooked, they glow pink-pink from a distance.
If you find these in your garden or on plant stems or stones while walking, you should act quickly.
The apple snail genus (Pomacea) is an invasive species that causes massive damage to many plant species.
Especially if you have an aquarium, a pond or a neighbor with one, you should keep your eyes open: Apple snails prefer to stay near bodies of water such as rivers or streams, or in ponds.
Apple snails threaten native species and the harvest
The striking pink eggs of apple snails (Pomacea) are usually found near bodies of water.
© Pond5 Images/Imago
The apple snails, which come from South America, have spread to North America and Asia and have also been spotted in Spain, Switzerland and France.
In Germany, people want to protect themselves from the spread of pests: According to the
Julius Kühn Institute
, the distribution of the genus Pomacea is prohibited within the EU; the freshwater snails may neither be sold nor passed on from one aquarium owner to the next.
Apple snails are popular with aquarium owners as algae-eating cleaning crews, explains
Gartenpraxis.de.
However, some people circumvent the ban so that the animals can escape into the environment via the garden pond, for example.
Accidental importation via eggs on aquarium and pond plants is also possible.
This is already endangering harvests in other countries and the apple snails are displacing native species.
They have no natural enemies in Germany.
It may currently be too cold for the animals to spread massively here, but climate change could soon make it possible, just as with the Nosferatu spider or the Asian hornet.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter from our partner 24garten.de.
Recommendations for action when apple snail eggs are found
For the layperson, adult apple snails cannot be distinguished from native freshwater snails.
If you suspect that apple snails or their eggs have been found, this must be reported to the plant protection service of the respective federal state.
In some Pomacea species, the eggs can also be bright red, orange or green in color.
According to Heimbiotop.de,
the red warning color can
indicate the danger of the eggs; they can contain a deadly neurotoxin.
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On his TikTok channel
IdkSterling,
a user from Seattle warns very clearly about the pink eggs and has a somewhat more harsh recommendation for action that you shouldn't follow in the first step in this country: "If you find these eggs, crush them immediately."
The snails can reproduce very quickly, kill native species and can transmit diseases.