By Lauren Diepenbrock
Snail management is becoming a more common discussion in Florida citrus with the arrival of a newer species in the Southeast. The snail of concern is Bulimulus bonariensis, previously referred to as Bulimulus sporadicus (Figure 1).
Photos by L. Diepenbrock
Over the past three years, the first emergence of newly hatched snails was noted in late April through early May. The smallest recovered snail was only 3 millimeters in diameter (Figure 2). These small young snails are hard to detect. It is likely that populations of snails go undetected for several generations due to the small size of the younger life stages. Until snails are larger, or the population is high enough to begin clogging irrigation, they are easy to miss in fields.
Snail management is tricky at best. At present, there are six baits and one liquid molluscicide registered for use on snails in Florida citrus: Deadline GT, Deadline M-Ps, IronFist, Ferroxx, Ferroxx AQ, Sluggo (baits) and Slug-Fest (liquid). In a laboratory study, all baits were found to be effective in killing B. bonariensis within a seven-day period in a confined setting. The data was presented in a 2023 Citrus Industry article. However, these findings do not always translate to field efficacy. Additionally, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have been screening other pesticides registered for use in citrus as potential management tools.
Molluscicides can provide short term relief from molluscan pests, but for long-term management, habitat manipulation and/or finding a predator is often key to snail and slug management.
Lauren Diepenbrock is an assistant professor at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred.
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