Golden Apple Snail Alameda and San Diego Counties The golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck, has been found breeding in Lake Miramar in San Diego County. Also it was found in Fremont, Alameda County. Pomacea canaliculata is a native to Central and South America but it was introduced into parts of Asia for snail farming. It has escaped cultivation and become a pest of paddy rice seedlings in Taiwan, and the Philippine Republic (Cheng 1989, Palvis et al 1989, Cowie (in press)). Department of Fish and Game staff made the initial discovery in Lake Miramar, San Diego County in late 1997. The find in Fremont was reported by a homeowner. The taxonomy of the group is unclear and identification requires an expert with an extensive reference collection. Specimens of the snail were sent to Dr. Robert Cowie, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI for identification. He identified the sample as P. canaliculata. Subsequent surveys by Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) staff found P. canaliculata eggs, immature and breeding adults in Lake Miramar. Further surveys for this snail in other lakes and reservoirs in San Diego County are being conducted by CDFA staff. Pomacea canaliculata and its congeners are common in the aquarium trade and have been available in California for several years. CDFA staff purchased several snails in San Jose pet stores that were identified as P. canaliculata.
Palis, F. V., R. F. Macatula and L. Browning. 1996. Niclosamide, an effective molluscicide for the golden apple snail (Pomacea Canaliculata Lamarck) control in Philippines rice production systems. pp 213-230. In Slugs and Snail Pests in Agriculture. British Crop Protection Council Symp. Proc. No. 66.
Prepared by: Bob Dowell |
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