MOLLUSKS

. (Golden
Apple Snai
l)
 Golden Apple Snail

There are more than 100 species of

apple snail that exists.
Two species, Pomacea canaliculata a
nd Pomacea maculata, commonly kn
own as Golden Apple Snails, are highl
y invasive and cause damage to rice c
rops.
 Origin of the mollusks
(golden apple snail)

The golden apple snail was introd

uced from Florida and Latin Amer
ica to Taiwan (Province of China)
and the Philippines in the early 1
980s by private snail farmers hopi
ng to reap big profits exporting s
nails to Europe.
They were introduced to Asia, from S
outh America, in the 1980s as potenti
al food for people, but it unfortunatel
y became a major pest of rice.
What it does golden apple snails eat y
oung and emerging rice plants. They
cut the rice stem at the base, and des
troying the whole plant.
 To distinguish golden apple snails
from Native snail check it's size a
nd color

1. To distinguish golden apple snails from native sn

ails, check its color and size.
2. Golden apple snails have muddy brown shell an
d golden pinkish or orange-yellow flesh.
3. They are bigger and lighter in color compared to
native snails.
4. Its eggs are bright pink in color.
5.To confirm snail damage, check for missing hills,
cut leaves, and cut stems.
 Why is it important that the golden
apple snail is considered a major
problem of rice.

If no control measure is taken, they can co

mpletely destroy 1 meter up to two (2) met
er of field overnight. This damage could lea
d to more than 50% yield loss.

Prepared by:
Ma. Margarita V. Redondo