If it isn't one thing...

[kayshapero]

Whilst googling around for info for a list of problems SoCal doesn't have, came across this problem which I sincerely hope we don't get.  Poor Florida!

Florida fights stucco-eating African snails

Entomologist Trevor Smith talks about Florida's battle with an invader that has an appetite for plants – and stucco.

By Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times

May 4, 2013, 8:00 a.m.

An epic battle is raging in South Florida: man against snail.

The state is struggling to contain an invasion of the giant African land snail, a species that thrives in hot and wet tropical climates. These gooey and destructive mollusks grow up to 8.5 inches long, feast on 500 different types of plants and nibble on calcium-rich stucco, which they use to construct their cone-shaped shells.

The snails are originally from East Africa but can now be found throughout the world. Aside from destroying plants and buildings, they can also be carriers of a type of meningitis.

Trevor Smith, an entomologist, is leading the eradication effort for Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He spoke with The Times about the slimy invaders.

(more)

Comments

[martes.livejournal.com]

Probably too dry here for them, plus in the winter it often drops below freezing.

[kayshapero]

The freezing part could do it - help dry them out if nothing else, operculum or not. Do you have Helix snails locally?

[martes.livejournal.com]

Dunno. Are Helix snails the ugly brown ones that eat everything and come out when it rains? Then yes, we do.

[kayshapero]

These guys:


They're the ones that some brilliant soul imported from France for eating purposes (they are tasty cooked with garlic butter - then again, what isn't?) that got loose and spread to infest gardens all over the US including mine. Not really ugly, just a confirmed nuisance. Mostly they don't bother me as they're interesting to watch and I don't usually grow things they want to eat (I recall once finding HALF of a mint leaf which I suspect came as a spicy surprise to one.) If they start eating the stucco though, it's Total War!