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

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 as snails aggregate and climb plant stems, 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, inexpensive attractant, and caffeine is 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. Further, native biological control agents such as the predatory snail Euglandina Rosea (Rosy Wolf Snail), carabid beetles, and the two-spotted earwig will be investigated.