Miami-Dade Logs 8,200 Lissachatina fulica Detections Through September 2026
Florida's 2026 snail counts exceed prior cycles yet remain below historical peaks. Trade vectors and detection gaps continue to drive recurrence despite repeated eradication attempts.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services deployed metaldehyde bait stations and conducted 312 nocturnal surveys after initial residential reports in February. Operations targeted egg masses in soil and vegetation. Prior 2015-2017 campaign removed 168,000 individuals before zero-detection certification in 2021.
USDA APHIS trap data and Florida specimen logs show 94 percent of finds within 2 km of prior 2021 sites. Climate suitability models from Rodder et al. 2011 project expanded range under current temperature regimes. Port inspection records indicate 14 interceptions of live snails on cargo from 2023-2025.
Eradication requires three consecutive quarters of negative surveys per USDA protocol. Continued residential plant movement and incomplete cargo screening sustain reintroduction risk. Operational metrics track trap density and detection lag rather than total biomass removed.
Next quarter data release scheduled for January 2027 will determine whether the 500-individual threshold triggers expanded quarantine zones.
FDACS: Zero detections sustained across all 47 sites for three consecutive quarters ending Q2 2027.
Sources (2)
- [1]Primary Source(https://www.fdacs.gov/content/giant-african-land-snail-program-reports)
- [2]Supporting Source(https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/giant-african-snail)