To the FWGNA group,
Word reached us last week that a population of Pomacea has
become established in the vicinity of Myrtle Beach, SC, extending the
range of this invasive pest north about 500 km. The South
Carolina Department of Natural Resources is currently studying options
for control.
At this time the introduction seems localized to a single pond in a
trailer park in the town of Socastee, about 10 km W of Myrtle
Beach. The area was quite poorly drained prior to development,
and ditching and filling operations have resulted in the creation of
several retention ponds in the neighborhood. The population of Pomacea was discovered by SCDNR personnel investigating complaints of excessive algal growth in these bodies of water.
On May 6 our colleague David Knott of the SCDNR reported "lots of P. insularum
egg clutches and three snails (two were copulating) in one of several
ponds." David photographed these specimens for a flier currently
on the drawing board, shown at left.
Most of us in this group are all too familiar with the damage to
aquatic crops and macrophytic vegetation caused by populations of Pomacea introduced
worldwide. The pest has spread throughout Florida since its
initial introduction in the 1980s. In 2005 it appeared in South Georgia, where attempts to control it have not been notably successful.
Although we do not have any evidence regarding the origin of the South
Carolina population, we speculate that the initial introduction may
have come through the release of unwanted pets. Pomacea
(of several species) were readily available in local aquarium stores
until a few years ago, and hobbyists traveling up from Florida
might easily transport wild-collected animals.
The pond inhabited by the South Carolina population drains through
underground culverts toward the Intracoastal Waterway, a degraded
habitat that would not suffer terribly from the release of
molluscicides. But upstream just a few kilometers is the mouth of
the Waccamaw River, still lovely in spots, leading north to Lake Waccamaw, the pristine home of several endemic species.
Come on, boys! Are we going to take back-sass from a bunch of fat snails in a scum pond? This is South Carolina - let's nuke 'em!
And keep in touch,
Rob
Return ... to the FWGNA front page
