While tending my garden, I spotted something odd – a patch of soil dotted with tiny white spheres.

Curious, I crouched down for a closer look. They were perfectly round, smooth, and glistening, like miniature pearls scattered in the dirt.

At first, I thought they might be bits of plastic or decorative beads, but they seemed too natural for that. I slipped on gloves and began to dig gently around them. The balls were soft, slightly squishy, almost gelatinous. A shiver ran through me. Eggs, I thought. But what kind—bird, insect, or something worse?

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I took a few inside and examined them under the light. Through the translucent shells, I could see faint dark spots. I went online, searching for answers—and my stomach turned when I discovered the truth.

They were snail eggs – snail caviar.

The realization made my skin crawl. I knew snails could multiply alarmingly fast and devastate an entire garden bed overnight. Worse still, certain species—especially tropical ones—carry parasites harmful to humans. That meant these delicate “pearls” weren’t just a curiosity; they were a threat.

I quickly gathered the whole cluster and poured boiling water over them to stop any chance of infestation. Then I cleaned the area thoroughly and inspected the rest of the yard.

Now I know better: even the most harmless-looking objects in the soil can hide a silent army capable of destroying a harvest. Nature is always closer than we think—sometimes, right beneath our feet.