![Photo of the giant snail, around 10 centimeters in height. [Photo: Nhaidu.com]](http://image76.360doc.com/DownloadImg/2014/07/0221/43100982_2.jpg "Photo of the giant snail, around 10 centimeters in height. [Photo: Nhaidu.com]")
Photo of the giant snail, around 10 centimeters in height. [Photo: Nhaidu.com] (ECNS) -- A giant African land snail was found in Fuzhou city of East China's Fujian province, which has caused concern over potential crop damage and the spread of diseases, local media reported. A citizen surnamed Cao took a picture of the giant snail, around 10 centimeters in height, on a street in Fuzhou city. Experts confirmed that it is a giant African land snail, which is on the list of harmful invasive species released in 2013. Experts said the snail, which can grow as long as 20 centimeters, attacks over 500 known species of plants. They eat crops, trees, vegetables, flowers, and can even gnaw through stucco and plaster. What's more, the snails carry diseases, especially spreading tuberculosis and eosinophilic meningitis. They can leave viruses on vegetables and fruits after crawling on them. The invasion of the snails in Fuzhou dates back to the 1980s, when people there bred them for food. The snails were discarded in the wild, posing a threat to the ecology of the whole area. The snails emerge from underground hibernation during April to November, experts said. The snails breed at a rapid rate, but it has natural enemies and can't resist pesticides.
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