The zebra mussel, a mollusk native to eurasia, was first discovered in the great lakes of north america in 1988. zebra mussels attach to solid substrates and are filter feeders. adult zebra mussels can survive for several days or even weeks out of water if the temperature and humidity are favorable. an adult female zebra mussel can produce as many as one million eggs per year. the recent range of occurrence of zebra mussels in the united states is indicated by shading in the map below. special note* a filter feed eats by taking in water and "filtering it" then pushing it out the other side, the filter in the mussel then traps any food particles in the water. this type of feeding tends to make the water very clear because it traps sediment as well.