While collecting water samples along the Everglades canal, I noticed a delicate, pale green cluster of eggs perched on a cypress knee. Their hue, reminiscent of sea-glass, set them apart from he familiar pink eggs of the native Apple Snail. I recognized these as Titan Apple Snail eggs—a striking yet invasive species not meant to be her, thriving unexpectedly in this intricate ecosystem. Their beauty stood in stark contrast to the quiet threat they pose, a reminder of nature’s complexity and resilience.

Apple Snail, though captivating in its appearance, poses a significant threat to the delicate balance of the ecosystems it invades. Unlike the native species, these snails consume vast amounts of aquatic vegetation, stripping away essential habitats for fish and other wildlife. As they multiply, they can devastate native plant life, causing erosion along riverbanks and canals, and depleting food sources for other animals. The bright pale green eggs—so beautiful to the eye—signal an unwelcome change in the landscape, a quiet reminder of how quickly an invader can alter the natural harmony.