If you notice bright pink egg clusters near water in your garden, don’t overlook them—they’re most likely from the invasive apple snail, a freshwater mollusk native to South America that has become a global threat. These snails, with shells up to 10 cm wide, thrive in warm, wet environments like ponds and swamps and have spread throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, causing serious ecological damage.
Each pink egg cluster can hold 400 to 600 eggs, allowing them to multiply quickly. They consume large amounts of aquatic vegetation, damage crops like rice, and outcompete native species. Their eggs are not only toxic to predators but can also be harmful to humans if touched, which is why handling them requires gloves. In the U.S., they are most common in states such as Florida, Texas, and California.
