Laboratory Assessment of Three Bait Molluscicides Against the White Garden Snail, Theba pisana Muller (Pulmonata: Parmacillidae)

Abstract

A Laboratory test method, simulating natural conditions, was developed to assess the efficiency of three bait molluscicides against the white garden snail. Theba pisana Muller and to find out the ideal concentration which would produce a sublethal effect on this animal pest. Metaldehyde compounds were not equal in their effectiveness and more effective than mercaptodimethur. The daily average of percentage kill for metaldehyde (Metaldene®), metaldehyde (Lumacrusk5®) and mercaptodimethur ranged from 73.90-83.23, 74.65-81.19 and 57.75-63.76, respectively. Higher mortalities in snails have resulted when these bait molluscicides were used at relatively lower concentrations (7.4 kg a.i./ha.) than when applied at the recommended ones (14.8 kg a.i./ha.).