Cornell Cooperative Extension

Monroe County
Chinese mysterysnail Bellamya chinensis
Image by Robert T. Dillon, Jr.

Chinese Mystery Snail

Chinese Mystery Snail Map
Image by USGS

Map by USGS on HUC level record of Chinese mystery snail in the United States

Chinese Mystery Snail

Chinese mystery snails (Cipangopaludina chinensis) can form dense populations and outcompete native species for food and habitat in lakes and streams. They are intermediate hosts for parasitic worms and can transmit trematodes that kill waterfowl.

Resources

Chinese Mystery Snail Effects - paper on distribution and community-level effects of the Chinese mystery snail in northern Wisconsin lakes.

Mystery Snails (Chinese, Japanese and Banded) - from Wisconsin Sea Grant covers identification and general characteristics of the species along with what you can do to help.

Are Chinese Mystery Snails Edible? from eXtension covers whether it is safe to eat this species.

Contact

Challis Mathes
Horticulture Resource Educator/Team Lead
cjm438@cornell.edu
585-753-2557

Last updated April 19, 2025

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