Horntail Snail Eradication

On September 30, 2020, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) positively identified the presence of the horntail snail (Macrochlamys indica) in Miami-Dade County. A program to survey, control and eradicate this federally regulated pest was immediately put into action to stop the snail's spread. This is the first time this snail has been found in the United States.

As a result of FDACS’s investigative inspections, multiple positive sites have been discovered in Miami-Dade County. Currently, FDACS is treating all properties within the affected areas and continues to trace the origin and forward movement of the snail to stop the spread of this significant pest and protect Florida’s agriculture industry.

Description

The horntail snail is a well-known pest in India and feeds on a wide variety of commercial crops, including lettuce, beans, yams and chrysanthemums. It is a voracious feeder, most active at night and after rainfall.

It has a delicate amber-colored shell that is about the size of a dime. The horntail snail is named for the pointed fleshy protrusion (caudal horn) at the tip of its tail. When relaxed, the horntail snail has a flap of flesh that extends backward onto or around the shell, which differentiates it from other terrestrial snails in the state.

The snail prefers cool damp locations, so it may be found under pots or in moist soil. During dry, hot weather, it may burrow in the ground.

Public Health Concerns

As with other terrestrial snails in Florida, the horntail snail has the potential to be an intermediate host of rat lung worm, which can cause meningitis in humans. Gloves are advised when handling the snail. 

Program Resources

• FDACS Identifies Presence of Invasive Horntail Snail in Florida
• Horntail Snail Pest Alert [ 602.4 kB ]
• Metaldehyde for Controlling Snails and Slugs FAQ: English [ 299.5 kB ] | Spanish [ 109.9 kB ]
• Snail ID Sheet [ 1.6 MB ]