I am native to the tropical waters of southeast Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.

When I first came here you people actually wanted me around. People wanted me for their aquariums and to care of nuisance species of aquatic plants. I was introduced to parts of Asia as a gourmet food item, but I escaped and rapidly spread throughout the region. Since then I have made my way all around the world to places like Thailand, the Philippines Hawaii and now the Gulf of Mexico.

I have invaded the southern United States from Texas to Florida and have even made my way all the way up to Ohio. I also cause mischief in Hawaii and Asia.

I like to cause a heap of problems in the wetlands that I have invaded. I reproduce very rapidly in the warm waters of the southern US. I eat virtually any type of aquatic vegetation. There are many native species of snail in Florida, and I compete with them for food and lay more eggs then they do. Animals that depend on native snails, such as the Everglades Kite, may also be in danger because they will not eat me. I can affect you humans directly because I may carry parasites that cause disease

There are many different methods that you humans have been using to try to control me. Fish, ducks and red ants have been released to eat me and my eggs. Some people have planted toxic plants in the waters I inhabit and trick me into eating these plants that kill me. Several pesticides have been tried, but these also kill innocent bystanders too. The most effective way of getting rid of me is hand-picking me out of my habitat. However, that is going to take a lot of time. Attracting me and my friends to one area with plants, old newspapers or shallow canals allows for capturing a lot of us at once