Occurrence of giant African snail, Achatina fulica Bowdich in soybean growing areas of Maharashtra and its management strategies: A review

Achatina fulica is known for its destructive impact on cultivated crops and is one of the world’s largest damaging snail pest. Native to East Africa, this species has spread to many countries through travel and trade. It is now widely distributed and no longer confined to its region of origin, primarily due to factors such as its high reproductive capacity, voracious feeding habits, inadequate quarantine management, and human-aided dispersal. A. fulica can cause significant economic damage to various crops, with signs of infestation including extensive rasping, defoliation, slime trails, and ribbon-like excrement. Recently, severe outbreaks of this pest have been observed in Maharashtra, India, exacerbated by certain agricultural and gardening practices, such as minimum tillage and straw retention, which promote the survival of snails and make seedlings more vulnerable to damage.