The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is warning people to not buy or use Marimo moss balls, which were found over the weekend to contain the invasive, destructive zebra mussel, which can harm other wildlife and clog pipes. The commission is calling for all pet stores and aquarium owners to quickly and safely dispose of any moss ball plants after the zebra mussel was confirmed to be living in moss balls sold in North Carolina. Zebra mussels are small, fingernail-sized shellfish named for the striped pattern on their shells. They were identified in Western states last week but detected March 5 by Art Bogan, research curator of mollusks with the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, to be living in moss balls designed for aquariums labeled as “Marimo Moss Ball Plant Grab & Go” and “Mini Marimo Moss Balls.”