First report and eradication of Pomacea sp. in Switzerland
In Switzerland, at the end of March 2017, more than 40 individuals of Pomacea sp. (Ampullariidae, apple snails - EU emergency measures) were found in an artificial pond in a public educational nature reserve in the municipality of Ettiswil (canton of Lucerne). It is suspected that the apple snails had been released into the pond by a private individual shortly before. Eradication measures were immediately taken and consisted of capturing the apple snails, removing water and sediments from the artificial pond (which had a concrete bottom) and installing barriers to prevent spread of potentially undetected apple snails. An intensive surveillance of the area has been carried out. It is noted that this finding was made in a region where no rice or any other host plants of Pomacea spp. of agricultural importance are produced. As no further specimens of Pomacea sp. could be found, eradication was considered to be successful.
The pest status of Pomacea sp. in Switzerland is officially declared as: Absent, pest eradicated.
Sources
NPPO of Switzerland (2017-07).