Unknown growth

[Tim Abbott]

Hi Ned,

I saw this pink/red stuff on several water plants along the northeast shore of Lake Myakka in Myakka River State Park.  Some type of parasite or fungus, insect eggs?

[Ira Runyan]

Well Tim, I can answer that question. Those are eggs of Non-native Apple snails. Our Florida native Apple Snail lays eggs that are white in color.

You can read about these snails and see photos of eggs at Apple snails in Florida. Look down the page to Fig.11 which shows a photo comparing the eggs of 4 Non-native snails to the native Florida Apple Snail.

[Tim Abbott]

Thanks Ira, Good news for the snail kites I guess. Pretty amazing how the release of various wildlife can impact a huge area sometimes dramatically

[oldned]

Not really good news for the Snail Kite Tim. Here's part of a report published several years ago by The Pomacea Project:

On Lake Tohopekaliga in Central Florida, Darby et al. (2007) have observed the non-native P. insularum in wetlands where the team has been sampling for the native apple snail. Darby et al. (2007) observed endangered snail kites foraging on P. insularum individuals, but kites dropped 44% of the non-native snails captured (compared to 0% of native, P. paludosa, apple snails). The high drop rate, likely due to the much larger size of P. insularum , may affect some snail kites (e.g., less experienced juveniles) in their obtaining food.

[Tim Abbott]

Thanks Ned, Hope the kites have adapted.