The statements in this article are based on reliable sources and are repeated at the end of this article
After all, this can be said to be a rare comfortable moment in summer, but at this time we should also be careful of an inconspicuous animal, if you encounter it, you must not have any curiosity to move, or even touch it, after all, this is likely to bring great harm to people, and in serious cases, it may even cause serious illness and death, so what is so powerful? [Beer]
1
A little snail in a memory
Many people should have this experience when they were young, whenever it rains, a lot of small things that are not usually common suddenly run out, for example, after the rain, there will be a lot of earthworms, and they will begin to appear in groups, drilling out of the dirt road and running to the road, and there is another thing that appears together, that is, snails.
However, the snails we saw when we were children were generally round-shelled, and they are very small native species, they tend to cover their "holes" with a special slime and attach themselves to the masonry wall, remember when I was a child, many people liked to buckle them off the wall and watch them run away comically and slowly.
But now, the traditional native snail has largely begun to disappear, and what we will now see on the side of the road is often a very large-looking, conical and spiral-shaped shell with distinct bands or stripes. The body presents a black-brown variety, there are many of them, and they don't look like "good stubble", in fact, they are not easy to mess with, they are the African giant snail, a large snail native to East Africa.
They feed an astonishing amount of food, are particularly fecund, and are so adaptable that they can often become a headache for invasive species if they are introduced to a new area. That's because they can "run wild" in a variety of environments, from fertile farmland to bustling city parks, and even survive in relatively dry environments. Due to the lack of natural predators and the rapid rate of reproduction, they spread rapidly in non-native areas, posing a serious threat to local ecosystems.
And their recipes are quite extensive – eat up to 500 plant species. They will happily feed on leaves, stems, fruits, seeds, bark, and mulch, and may also feed on other smaller snails, sand, stones, gypsum, and plaster. Their presence not only causes direct damage to crops, but can also pose a potential threat to human health through the parasites they carry. In fact, this is why many news outlets emphasize that you should never touch this animal casually.
Some people may be curious, although they may not have eaten it, but they should have heard of a "traditional delicacy" in French cuisine, French baked snails, many people who have tasted it think it is a delicious dish, why don't French people worry about eating snails? In fact, most of the snails in French cuisine are a local gray snail species, which is specially selected, and even then it has to be complicated before it can be eaten.
In fact, we may have seen related videos on the Internet, a formal cooking process, you need to select the snails themselves one by one, and then use water to wash them repeatedly, and add soda and salt and other cleaning agents on the way to remove the mucus on the snails, and the eggs in the body, after many times of repeated cleaning, and finally use high temperature for thorough cooking.
Every step in the middle is a strict requirement, after all, it is a delicacy that is well handled, and it is likely to become a "beautiful death" if it is not handled well, and it is necessary to do a good job of protection throughout the treatment process, especially for the protection of hands and the treatment of cleaned up sewage, there are also strict requirements, otherwise it is easy to cause serious consequences. After all, they can carry, for example, Angiostrongyloides cantonensis (rat lungworm), which can cause meningitis or other serious health problems if ingested by humans.
As complicated as it sounds, we ordinary people simply don't have the skills to deal with it. But there are also many people who may think, "I'm fine as long as I don't eat it, but in fact, even if you don't eat it, there's still a big risk." As a species that does not like sunlight and lives in humid corners, it can be said that it is "natural" as an intermediate host for many pathogenic bacteria and malignant parasites.
2
Parasites of terror
Sometimes a body may carry hundreds of various types of parasites, not to mention more eggs, these terrible eggs and germs will also attach to the mucus they secrete, with their movement trajectory to spread, such as the vegetable leaves they crawl on, it is possible to leave the corresponding eggs, and under the "protection" of their mucus, these things can remain active for a long time.
If someone touches and eats these things without treatment, then they will be infected with parasites. That's why don't be curious to touch it, or even "do it" to step on it and kick it off, because this may also cause a lot of residual mucus and insects to adhere to the soles of your shoes, resulting in infections that may even follow you home and cause continuous transmission.
In fact, the African giant snail is also considered a serious agricultural pest due to their preference for crops such as peanuts, cucumbers, peas, beans, and melons, which has led to wreak havoc on many farmers. It was even once considered one of the most invasive species in the world, with the snail listed as one of the top 100 invasive species in the world, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Over the years, the growing number of transnational legal and illegal pet trade industries has played an important role in the spread of these "invasive animals" beyond their natural habitats. While at one point they may seem like harmless pets due to their slow-moving nature and relatively simple care requirements, such as providing fluids and a proper diet, these snails can easily escape captivity and breed quickly in their new environment.
Although their reproduction and growth will also be restricted by multiple environmental factors, such as in conditions that are not conducive to survival, they will also choose to "sleep" for a period of time to wait for the right time. However, when the time is right, it quickly enters the "breeding mode". Usually after mating, they lay a large number of egg sacs, the number of which varies from individual to individual, but generally there are hundreds of eggs at a time.
To ensure the safety of their offspring, the eggs are carefully hidden underground or in leaf litter to hide from predators. The incubation period is affected by temperature and humidity and usually lasts 2-4 weeks. Newborn young snails first rely on eggshell nutrients, then leave the soil that protects them and begin to feed on plants. During their growth, they go through several stages, including a juvenile period of rapid growth and a stable period after sexual maturity. It is worth mentioning that these snails can enjoy a lifespan of up to 10 years in the wild.
3
The whole world is "suffering"
This ability to survive is truly amazing, and if we look back, we can see that their footprints are found in multiple regions around the globe. In Florida, for example, since 1966, when three animals were secretly introduced as "pets", they have been breeding wildly in their new environment. In just a few years, their numbers have soared from three to a staggering tens of thousands. This number is enough to show how amazing the reproductive ability of the African giant snail is.
In fact, in the face of this "snail invasion" crisis, in fact, the local authorities did not sit idly by. They have taken a number of measures to combat the spread of giant snails in Africa, including physical capture, chemical control, introduction of natural predators, and raising public awareness. Even at great cost to govern. Despite significant efforts, these measures have not been as effective as they could have been. The tenacious vitality of the African giant snail allows it to survive in a variety of harsh environments and continue to reproduce.
To solve the problem of the African giant snail once and for all, we may need to change our thinking and adopt a more integrated management strategy. This includes strengthening the development of biological surveillance and early warning systems, detecting and controlling the spread of African giant snails in a timely manner, increasing public participation, and encouraging more people to participate in related efforts. At the same time, we will strengthen international cooperation and exchanges to jointly study and respond to the invasion of African giant snails.
At the same time, it is important to have a deep understanding of their biology and ecological habits. By studying the biology and behavior of this species, we can better understand their impact on ecosystems and human health issues, and this knowledge can help inform conservation efforts to control invasive populations, while promoting coexistence with native populations in their natural habitats. Only by understanding their intrusion mechanisms and prevention and control methods can we formulate more targeted response measures.
This requires scientific research institutions to give full play to their professional advantages and strengthen research work in related fields. The invasion of the African giant snail is a complex and serious problem that requires the joint efforts of scientific research institutions and the public. And the most important thing we ordinary people need to do is to learn how to have a clear understanding of these species that are very harmful to people, know how to avoid harm to ourselves, and at the same time not release and spread these creatures casually.
Resources:
[1] Huanqiu.com - 2023.07.23 "Don't touch the big snail after the rain! You can't eat it! 》
[2] Voice of the Chinese Academy of Sciences - 2023.06.12 "The Hidden Danger in the City: The Secret of the African Great Snail丨You and My City"
[3] CCTV Finance - 2022.07.25 "The "African giant snail" invades the United States, or causes meningitis in humans! The rate of reproduction is so fast that it has been regionally blocked》