Written by LMBO summer intern Kate Lund
There are lots of animals at the LMBO office at Afterglow Farm. Even the smallest ones contribute to the ecosystem as a whole. The amber snail pictured below is an example of this as they serve as a host for songbird parasites!
First, the snail eats bird fecal matter (bird poop). Next the parasitic flatworm Leucochloridium paradoxum begins to develop sporocysts (brood sacs) in the snail tentacles (eye stalks). As this develops, the tentacle becomes too swollen to retract, and the parasite affects the snail’s vision, so it stays in light environments. The flatworm sporocyst also pulsates in the sunlight which looks like a caterpillar. Finally, this attracts a songbird to eat the snail, through which the flatworm enters the bird’s digestive system. The flatworm lodges itself in the bird's digestive tract and develops into an adult, which releases eggs. These eggs exit the bird's digestive tract in fecal matter, and the process can begin again.
Check out more about these cool creatures by looking for snails when you are outdoors or by searching online for vidoes of Leucochloridium paradoxum (such as those from National Geographic). Read this fun article from UWM College of Letters and Science Saukville Field Station written by Honorary LMBO Board Member Kate Redmond (the Bug Lady) titled “Land Snails” for some more interesting snail facts.