Keeping out undesirables
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (356385)
Rockingham, Australia
June 19, 2025 8:39pm CST
Australia is classified as a continent but it’s surrounded by water and effectively cut off from the rest of the world. It’s one reason why our creatures have evolved so differently from those in other countries. It is more difficult for people to reach our shores if they try to come by illegal means and we’ve taken great pains to keep out undesirable pests. We have also introduced plenty but mostly with good intentions. We have very strict quarantine laws but occasionally, new pests arrive such as the one found in Queensland recently.
It’s the peanut or ghost snail, Bulimulus sporadicus, which originated in the Caribbean and has now been discovered at the Port of Brisbane. It’s becoming a problem in southern USA, damaging crops such as peanuts, citrus, soybean, cotton and blueberry. Australian horticulturalists are keen to prevent it gaining hold here.
The snail can cover 22 metres in 22 days (so is speedier than most snail species) and likes hitchhiking on farm machinery, rail carriages and people. It can seal itself in its shell over dry periods and emerge again when it rains.
350 of the snails have been found so far and baits are being set using raw sourdough starter as a lure.
The photo is of the railway line at Kuranda in Queensland.
15 people like this
15 responses
@sallypup (64868)
• Centralia, Washington
13h
@DaddyEvil I know where some hungry starlings are.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (151250)
• United States
9h
@sallypup Starlings are an introduced species that both the US and Australia have in common. We have them in our back yard all the time.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (50810)
• Mojave, California
15h
Very clever point and this is what I was taught. Australia outside aboriginals were all from prison. Granted silly things like said some said bad things about a king, but none the less they were sent to this land of creature horrors.
All they did was become one of the most fair and free counrtries in the world. Much respect
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3 people like this
@JudyEv (356385)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
That you for the kind words. Certainly much of our Anglo-Saxon forebears were convicts but there were a lot of 'free' people that came here too. I hope and pray we always stay free and fair.
@rsa101 (38819)
• Philippines
9h
I’ve seen a few videos on YouTube showing how strict Australia is when it comes to screening baggages at the airport—especially at customs. They really take biosecurity seriously, and now I understand why after reading about this ghost snail issue. It’s amazing how even a tiny creature like that can cause such big trouble for crops and the environment.
It must be a constant challenge keeping things like this out, especially when pests can hitch a ride so easily. The fact that they’re using raw sourdough starter as bait is both clever and oddly fascinating! I really hope the efforts to stop it early work—Australia’s unique ecosystem is so worth protecting.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38819)
• Philippines
8h
@JudyEv Whoa, it's good to know that there is no rabies there. There is a constant risk here because anti-rabies vaccinations are typically given automatically in response to animal bites or scratches. Undoubtedly, it is imperative for pet owners to ensure their animals receive anti-rabies vaccinations. I'm not really sure how we would get rid of it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (356385)
• Rockingham, Australia
7h
@rsa101 Once some things get a hold in a country, it's almost impossible to eradicate. Our latest problem is the shot-hole borer, a tiny insect which bores holes in tree trunks and ends up killing them. A lot of trees were destroyed but now it's accepted that we'll have to learn to live with it.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (147775)
• India
12h
Wonder how they managed to sneak in and that too crossing the sea. Anyway eradicating snails is not easy. Do you use pesticides? There are pesticides ideally suited for killing snails.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (147775)
• India
8h
@JudyEv I have worked for a multinational and they had a full Department dealing with Agrochemicals and I remember they had a solution. And now further research may have produced better results.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (356385)
• Rockingham, Australia
7h
@allknowing Hopefully they can stop any more getting into the country.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (191676)
• United States
9h
I hope they can stop the spread. The US is full of invasive species.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (356385)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
The shot-hole borer was the last to arrive here. Now that they've cut down dozens of beautiful trees trying to stop the spread, they've decided they can't and will try now to simply manage it.
@arunima25 (90733)
• Bangalore, India
13h
That's pretty impressive speed for a snail. 350 found so far, but that might not be all. If they are good at producing, they would multiply fast. I hope that they got to know in the initial stage and the problem can be arrested and resolved.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (90733)
• Bangalore, India
43m
@JudyEv I hope that they have not reproduced much in short span.
@Traceyjayne (2371)
• United Kingdom
4h
I have never heard of that particular snail before. I hope that your country can get rid of them quickly as they are causing such problems.
@LooeyVille (41)
• United States
6h
There's tough laws about bringing plants and vegetation and animals into a foreign country
