Investigation of Bulimulus bonariensis visual preferences to increase trap attraction

Bulimulus bonariensis (Rafinesque, 1833) (Stylommatophora: Bulimulidae) is an invasive terrestrial snail first reported in Florida in 2009 and reached pest status in 2015. The species has significantly impacted multiple agricultural systems, including citrus, cotton and peanuts, disrupting farming practices and reducing yields. The primary control method often involves molluscicides. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop low-cost alternative control mechanisms that reduce risk to nontarget organisms. To develop a novel management system for this snail, we investigated the visual preferences of B. bonariensis.

Data showed that B. bonariensis was attracted to tall, wide and dark supports. This finding led to the design of a new vertical trapping system, which we hypothesized would capture more snails than currently available commercial ground traps. We tested our new Vertical trap in two trials in citrus and cotton-peanut fields. Furthermore, we evaluated a low-impact attractant, bread dough, to increase trap efficiency, and a natural repellent, caffeine, to assess its potential use in an integrated pest management plan. We found that the Vertical trap prompted a strong response from B. bonariensis, resulting in higher capture rates than the commercial trap. However, neither bread dough nor caffeine affected the number of snails captured in traps.

We developed a novel trapping system for the invasive ghost snail, relying only on visual cues. This trap could be used for monitoring invasive snails in different cropping systems. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.