Invasive apple snails in Malaysia H. Yahaya1, A. Badrulhadza2, A. Sivapragasam3, M. Nordin4, M.N. Muhamad Hisham5 and H. Misrudin4 1Paddy and Rice Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Telong, 16310 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia. Email: yahayahussain@ gmail.com,
[email protected] (Current address: Lot 241 Kampung Renik Banggu, Jalan Bukit Marak, 16150, Kota Bharu, Kelantan) 2Crop and Soil Science Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Email: bhadza@ mardi.gov.my 3CABI South East Asia, Building A 19, MARDI 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Email:
[email protected] 4Crop Protection and Plant Quarantine Division, Department of Agriculture, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Email:
[email protected],
[email protected] 5Muda Agricultural Development Authority, Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. Email
[email protected] Abstract South American apple snails, Pomacea spp., classified as quarantine pests in Malaysia, were first detected in Malaysia in 1991. However, it took almost 10 years before they developed into one of the major pests of rice in the country. Since then, they have spread to almost all the rice areas in Malaysia. Since their detection, continuous control, containment and eradication programmes and research activities have been conducted by various government agricultural agencies involved in rice production. The efforts have been successful in reducing crop damage by the snails but have failed to arrest their dispersal to new areas. Since 2002, the snails have infested almost 20,000 ha of rice growing areas (2008 data) and have threatened the livelihoods of farmers. In 2010, costs associated with apple snail damage were estimated as RM 82 million (US $28 million).