Evaluation of bucket traps baited with selected foods for attracting giant African snails, Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich) in Trinidad

Abstract

The giant African snail, Lissachatina fulica, is a known agricultural pest with some public health concern; it was introduced in Trinidad in 2008. The purpose of this study is to highlight results obtained from the evaluation of the attractiveness of L. fulica to selected food baits in a bucket trap set up. Selected food baits (banana, breadfruit, cabbage and papaya) were evaluated for their use as a potential attractant for L. fulica in two different locations in Orange Grove, Trinidad. All food baits used in the traps showed some level of attraction. Data suggests that small and medium sized snails appeared to be associated with a more significant contribution to total snail counts than large snails for the food baited traps used in the study. Being an agricultural and public health pest, the management of giant African snail is a serious concern at the farm and national levels. Thus it is important that various management strategies are explored whether intended to complement current baiting strategies or to assist in the monitoring of populations in infested areas over time.

Keywords

• giant african snail
• bucket trap
• food bait
• invasive species