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A new species of invasive snail has started to spread in Sweden.
The black-headed snail reproduces and spreads rapidly. It was first discovered in the fall of 2019 and is now found in various regions of the country.
– The snail spreads the same way the killer snail did in the 1980s, says snail expert Ted von Proschwitz.
The black-headed snail was first discovered a year ago in Västmanland. Now it has been found again: in mid-October, the first find of that snail was made in Östergötland.
There is a risk that the snail will become as big of a problem as the killer snail. It is an invasive species that is rapidly increasing in numbers.
It is now mainly found in eastern Sweden and runs as a belt from southern Gästrikland, through Uppland, Stockholm, Sörmland, Östergötland, and east to Småland. The snail has also been found in Närke and Västmanland.
– We humans cause this. It happens a bit randomly, but there is probably some kind of expanding home that causes it, says Ted von Proschwitz.
It is not yet known whether the black-headed snail will be as harmful as the killer snail.
– It spreads in exactly the same way that the killer snail did in the 80’s. It appears in man-made places. These invasive species are spread primarily through the plant and soil trade. Then the snails arrive and settle in additional locations, says Ted von Proschwitz.
– What we know from other places is that there are many snails of this species in small areas, but we have not received as many reports of damage.
Photograph: Björn Larsson Rosvall / TT
Ted von Proschwitz, biologist and snail expert at the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History.
According to Ted von Proschwitz, the black-headed snail may have been in Sweden since 2015. But it was only discovered last fall.
One reason the snail can be difficult to spot is that it is quite small, about 5.5 to 6.5 centimeters. The black-headed snail has a different life cycle than killer snails. Adult snails are only found in early fall and don’t live long after that.
– When the eggs hatch, they are quite small. Then you don’t notice them. Adult snails do not survive the winter, but lay eggs that survive and hatch in the spring.
The species, which belongs to the Caucasus, has spread to Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Latvia, among others.
Better prepared now
If you spot a possible black-headed snail in your yard, report it. It is important to find out if this is the case and what kind of damage the snail can cause.
– Snails are difficult to control. What we can do is limit everything locally and reduce the spread. The county administrative boards are informed and follow up. So maybe we’re a little better prepared than the killer snail.
Photo: Tomas Troschke / TT
The black-headed snail (Krynickillus melanocephalus) is an invasive snail species that is found in Sweden.
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