Product Type: Grains – Rice
Stage: Production & Harvesting
Problem: Rice snail infestation or invasions reducing rice yield
Solution: Partial control or reduction of rice snail populations with natural avian predator, the snail kite

1. Apple snails are extremely damaging to rice paddies and have been spread through Taiwan, the Philippines, and most countries in Southeast and East Asia.
2. Rice paddies damaged by apple snails were first noticed in Ecuador in 2005. Losses in 2013 were estimated to be over 56M USD. The snails chew through green vegetation and eat through shallow patches in rice fields.
3. Ecuadorean rice farmers have one slight snail control advantage: the snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis), a bird that preys on snails. Ecuadorean farmers used to kill the birds, believing they harmed livestock, but have seen the snail kite to be a welcome presence in recent years.
4. Pesticide use was applied to control snail populations at high environmental cost, also killing snail kites. After a ban on certain pesticides use for control, the snail kite continues to be one of few natural options for controlling apple snail infestation.