Development of a High-Throughput Laboratory Bioassay for Testing Potential Attractants for Terrestrial Snails and Slugs.

Invasive snails and slugs are among the most damaging pests of vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, grains, and forage throughout the world. Current control strategies are focused almost exclusively on molluscicides, which are ineffective under some conditions, and which can have serious nontarget effects. A major aim of this study was to develop a generic high-throughput bioassay method for use in identifying attractants for terrestrial gastropods, with the overall goal of developing attractant-based control methods for pest gastropods. Here, we demonstrate the use of the bioassay method in screening a wide variety of foodstuffs and other possible sources of attractants, using the pest snail Cornu aspersum Müller (Pulmonata, Helicidae) and the pest slug Deroceras reticulatum Müller (Pulmonata, Agriolimacidae) as test animals. Among a large number of food items and previously reported attractants tested, chopped fresh cucumber (Cucumis sativus) was the most attractive substrate for both species. Our results also showed that previous feeding experience influences subsequent food choice to some extent, but regardless of previous feeding experience, chopped cucumber was as attractive or more attractive than any other substrate tested.