Mediterranean Snail
Cernuella virgata
Mediterranean Snail
Photo courtesy of: Copyright © Malcolm Storey, 2003, www.bioimages.org.uk 
. All rights reserved.
This species is NOT present in New Zealand. If you see this snail contact Biosecurity New Zealand’s Exotic Pests and Diseases hotline on 0800 809 966.
Description
The Mediterranean snail Cernuella virgata are common in many parts of Australia and have a dark spiral stripe in the "swirl" of their white-coloured shell.
Impact
Mediterranean snails have become a serious agricultural pest in parts of Australia. They cause severe damage and occasionally total destruction to legume based pastures (e.g. annual medics, Lucerne, clovers) and seedling crops (e.g. wheat and barley) including damage to ornamental plants. Re-establishment of pastures in snail infested areas is particularly difficult and stock reject pasture and hay which is heavily contaminated with snails (due to slime).
Mediterranean snails would pose a huge threat to the agriculture industry if established in New Zealand, with the potential to have similar impacts as observed in Australia. Mediterranean snails would also compete with existing snail species present in New Zealand.
Distribution
Known distribution of the Mediterranean snail includes Great Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Eastern U.S.A. and Australia (Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, NSW).
Resources
Page last updated: 22 October 2008