A new species is spreading in Sweden and can cause problems for those who like to keep their garden nice and healthy.
The species is a type of snail that goes by the name spotted vine snail. At the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, they are very familiar with the snail.
– Spotted vine conch is an alien species, thus introduced with the help of humans. Currently, it is considered to have a relatively low invasion potential, says Peter Dalinmanager at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, to News24.
The snail is orange-brown mottled and is about the size of a golf ball when fully grown.
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A spotted vine snail. Photo: Thijs de Graaf/Alamy/STELLA Pictures. The spotted vine snail can threaten your garden: “Becoming increasingly common”
Ted von Proschwitzcurator at Gothenburg’s Natural History Museum, has studied the spotted grape snail closely and believes that it spreads quickly.
– The species is spread by humans and is often found in man-made environments, for example gardens and parks, von Proschwitz tells Nyheter24, and continues:
– It has become increasingly common in Sweden due to climate changes that make it warmer and rainier.
Because of this, it is absolutely most common in the southern parts of Sweden, but can also be found as high up as in the Stockholm region, says von Proschwitz.
He draws parallels between the spotted vine snail and killer snails, although the former is not as dangerous as the latter.
– They reproduce in the same way, but quickly, not as quickly as killer snails.
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The snail eats both ornamental plants and much of what people usually grow, such as vegetables and lettuce. von Proschwitz says that it is in plants and soil that the spotted vine snail leaves eggs behind.
If you want to avoid the spotted grape snail, you should be careful with the soil you buy.
– Be vigilant when buying plants and soil. Look for snails and eggs in the soil and root system, von Proschwitz tells Nyheter24, adding:
– But it can also happen that they come from a neighbour’s garden.
Photo: Manfred Ruckszio/Alamy/STELLA Pictures.