Invasive Snails Devour Louisiana Rice Crops

Invasive apple snails and delphacids are creating a nightmare for farmers in southern Louisiana, particularly those cultivating rice and crawfish. Apple snails, first noticed in significant numbers after a 2016 flood, can destroy entire fields of young rice plants. Farmers are adapting by using more expensive dry-then-flood planting methods. Separating snails from crawfish also adds extra labor and time to harvesting.

Meanwhile, tiny delphacid insects are piercing rice plants and spreading viruses, mirroring severe outbreaks in Texas where yields dropped significantly. Experts suggest that a warming world might be aiding the spread of these pests, making it harder for farmers to predict and manage them. This dual threat impacts farmer revenue and could lead to increased rice prices for consumers, as researchers explore solutions that don't harm crawfish populations.