ver-gris du trèfle vs Common Apple Snail

Anarta trifolii compared with Pomacea bridgesii

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	ver-gris du trèfle	Common Apple Snail
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum	Arthropoda (arthropodes)	Mollusca (mollusques)
Class	Insecta (insecte)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Architaenioglossa (Architaenioglossa)
Family	Noctuidae	Ampullariidae
Genus	Anarta	Pomacea
Species	Anarta trifolii	Pomacea bridgesii

Evolutionary Relationship

ver-gris du trèfle and Common Apple Snail share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (animal)

Conservation Status

ver-gris du trèfle

LC — Least Concern

Common Apple Snail

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	ver-gris du trèfle	Common Apple Snail
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

ver-gris du trèfle

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests and deserts and xeric shrublands within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Cabo Verde), Asia (Yemen), Europe (4 countries), and North America (Canada, United States).

Common Apple Snail

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and mangrove forests and coastal wetlands within the Indomalayan biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Israel, Taiwan, Vietnam), Europe (Austria), North America (United States), and South America (Chile, Venezuela).

ver-gris du trèfle

The clover cutworm (Anarta trifolii) is a noctuid moth in the family Noctuidae, order Lepidoptera, with a wide distribution spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. The species has a characteristic cutworm larva that severs plant stems near the soil surface or feeds on leaves and developing seeds, causing significant damage to crops. Primary host plants include clover (Trifolium), alfalfa, beet, and various other broadleaf crops and weeds, making A. trifolii an agricultural pest of moderate to significant importance in affected regions. Adults are brownish-grey moths with subtle wing patterns typical of the noctuidae family, and like most noctuids, they are nocturnal and attracted to light sources. The species is highly mobile, with adults capable of long-distance migration that enables rapid colonization of new agricultural areas. A. trifolii inhabits a broad range of open habitats including agricultural fields, meadows, steppes, and disturbed grasslands across its extensive range. Its polyphagous larval diet and migratory adult behavior contribute to its wide geographic range spanning multiple continents. In Europe, it is found from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia; in North America it occurs in both Canada and the United States. A. trifolii is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with populations considered stable and the species benefiting from the widespread availability of agricultural host plants. Natural enemies include parasitoid wasps and tachinid flies, along with pathogens including nuclear polyhedrosis viruses used in biological control.

Common Apple Snail

<em>Pomacea bridgesii</em>, commonly known as the Common Apple Snail or Spike-topped Apple Snail, is a freshwater gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae. This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and has an extensive global distribution spanning Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, largely due to its popularity in the aquarium trade and subsequent introductions. In its native South American range, Common Apple Snails typically inhabit tropical and subtropical freshwater environments including rivers, lakes, marshes, and flooded forests such as mangroves. They are known for their distinctly globular shell and their ability to breathe both air and water using a combination of a gill and a primitive lung-like structure. This species typically lays distinctive pink egg clutches above the waterline on emergent vegetation or hard surfaces. It feeds primarily on aquatic vegetation, algae, and detritus. Its average lifespan is approximately 3 years under favorable conditions.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇺🇸 United States