Giant African Snails Invade Florida: 5 Other Invasive Species Affecting the Sunshine State [PHOTOS]

Giant African Snails are taking over Florida. They are an invasive species slowly, but surely moving into residential areas of Miami-Dade County.

Able to fit in the palm of a person's hand, the Giant African Snails, also known by their scientific name Lissachatina fulica, are much larger than the normal, run-of-mill snails. They are able to reach sizes of 8 inches, but so far the largest found in South Florida has been 5 inches, reported the Miami Herald.

The snail infestation is damaging to the local ecosystem. They feed on 500 different types of plants and they enter people's homes .

"We've been told that they like to eat the stucco off the sides of the houses because it contains calcium, and the calcium helps to build their shells," said Suzi Distelberg, a district inspector for the Florida Department of Agriculture, as reported by Physorg.com.

These snails also pose a health risk. They can carry parasites that cause meningitis in humans. They are multiplying at a fast rate as well. Investigators already discovered 1,100 snails.

"We have gone back to some of these positive properties and cleaned up every one of these snails we have seen," Denise Feiber, public information director for Florida's Division of Plant Industry, told ABC News.  "We come back a few days later and we're collecting more and more."

This isn't the first time an invasive species has made its way into Florida. The government has a whole host of invaders.

Click through the slideshow to see what enemies Floridians must contend with to defend their local ecosystem.

Giant African Snails are taking over Florida. They are an invasive species slowly, but surely moving into residential areas of Miami-Dade County.

Asian swamp eels, or the Monopterus albus, were first introduced to Hawaii in the 1900s. But since then, it has become a widespread problem to wetlands throughout mainland United States.

The Asian swamp eels prey on crayfish, shrimp, worms, frogs, and tadpoles. They survive in both hot and cold climates and have no natural predators in the United States. They can also breathe air and move across land, according to Florida Light and Power Company.

The Cuban tree frogs, also known as osteopilus septentrionalis, are the largest tree frogs in North America.

They were first detected in the Key West, Monroe County. They eat insects, lizards, snakes, mice and other frogs. They cause native frog numbers to decline once they enter into an ecosystem.

They are found in urban and natural areas in many south Floridian counties.

Fire ants, scientifically known as solenopsis invicta, are aggressive, pesky insects who produce a painful sting.

They eat and carry seeds of their natural habitat. This alters and destroys agricultural crops.

They attack, kill, and eat birds, eggs, lizards and turtles. In some areas that are severely infested, they have caused the extinction of nearly 40 percent of native insect species.

Fire ants can cost the United State more than $1 billion a year in damages, according to Florida Light and Power Company.

The Wild Hog, or the sus scrofa, has come into Florida with full force. There are approximately 500,000 hogs in the state.

The species is damaging to agricultural industry, causing over $800 million per year in damages. They can transmit diseases to livestock and humans.

Hogs dig up the ground, while searching for food and destroy vegetation. They cause soil erosion and reduce nesting habits for birds and other animals, according to Florida Light and Power Company.

The Monk Parakeet, or the myiopsitta monachus, was first introduced to the United States in the 1960s from South American countries like Argentina, Chile and Brazil.

They build large nests in trees, electrical equipment and telecommunication towers. Due to their nesting habits, they affect a great number of electric utilities for Floridians.

The population doubles about every five years and is expected to grow 14 times large over the next 10 years, according to Florida Light and Power Company.