Developing management strategies for the invasive snail Bulimulus bonariensis using behavioral traits and biological control

Commodities

Practices

Bulimulus bonariensis is an invasive species of snail
native to southeastern South America. It was first reported in
Florida in 2009 but did not become an issue until 2015. This
snail poses a significant threat to crops such as cotton,
blueberry, and squash, adversely impacting harvest quality and
disrupting crop health. In peanuts and blueberries, growers face
the challenge of snails contaminating harvest, lowering quality,
and increasing costs through sorting. In citrus, snails clog
irrigation components and frost protective lines due to heavy
aggregation near moisture. Other crops such as soybeans, snap
peas, and cotton are exposed to the most harm in the earliest
stages of growth causing lodging. Climbing is a notable behavior
for B. bonariensis linked to estivation, a diapause-like
state triggered by a change in moisture levels throughout the
year. To develop a sustainable management strategy, we aim to
design a new trap that captures the behavior of estivation. The
trap was designed based on lab evaluations that found snails are
attracted to dark colors and tall structures. Additionally,
previous studies have shown fermented bread dough to be an
effective and inexpensive attractant, while caffeine was found to
be an effective toxicant and repellent that deters snails. This
study plans to utilize new traps, bread dough, and caffeine
extract to develop a more sustainable approach to snail
management. The predatory efficiency of native biological control
agents such as the predatory snail Euglandina Rosea
(Rosy Wolf Snail), carabid beetles, and the two-spotted earwig
will be investigated.

1. Evaluation of a new trapping system, an attractive bait, and
   a repellent for the management of B. bonariensis
   • Utilizing laboratory preliminary data from color-choice
     assays and material parameters, we will compare a homemade
     trapping system to a commercial trap.
   • Test the use of bread dough as a snail attractant and
     caffeine as a snail deterrent in conjunction with trap types
     in field settings.

2. Identify natural enemies of B. bonariensis and
   their efficacy.
   • Survey of potential natural enemies of B.
     bonariensis in a peanut system.
   • Determine the success of natural enemies of B.
     bonariensis through lab bioassays and predator exclusion
     cages in field settings.