Subject: pod identification
Geographic location of the bug: swampland outside New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Date: 07/23/2019
Time: 04:26 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: greetings Bugman. I have found your site randomly but joyfully. are you the Bugman of whom Albuquerque Speaks such praises ? my daughter recently moved to ABQ. I saw your work on a documentary, I believe & encouraged her to offer herself to volunteer as she is an avid entomologist .. with a background in pathology. now, the accompanying image is of a foamy pod adhering to a dried plant stalk in swampland near NOLA. a friend asks & I am curious as well. thanks to you, for this great site… you are generous and the education opportunities your offer the seeking here on social media reaffirms my faith in humanity, yes indeed.
How you want your letter signed: rebekah duffus
Dear Rebekah,
Thanks so much for your fervid praise, but we don’t know anything about Albuquerque Speaks. We did feel compelled to get you a proper identification and we believe we have properly identified this as the Egg Mass of an Apple Snail in the genus Pomacea, and there are several invasive species. According to Featured Creatures: “You can scrape off the egg masses and allow them to fall into the water since inundated eggs will not hatch. However, only pink egg masses should be scraped or removed. Egg masses with large, white eggs were laid by the native Florida applesnail and should be left undisturbed, as they do not pose a threat and are the principal food of the Everglades kite. Never release applesnails from aquaria into the wild (FFWCC 2006).” ResearchGate also has an image of a pink Apple Snail Egg Mass.