Incidence and Management of Slugs and Snails

Raul Villanueva – 2023 Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board ‘Identification of Potential Damaging Snail Species and Efficacy Tests of Molluscicides for the Management of Slugs and Snails’ ABSTRACT: Despite the 2022 drought, snail outbreaks were reported in soybean fields for several counties (Lyon, Caldwell, Christian) in western Kentucky. High populations of snails reduced remarkably the soybean stands obliging growers to replant, which subsequently caused an uneven crop and an increase of the production costs. Slug outbreaks have been common in commercial soybean and corn fields. In 2017, approximately 10% of the total soybean acreage in KY (150,000 acres) was replanted due to slug damage. We received funds last year to work on slug management. However, slug populations were low at the beginning of the growing season, and then they were not found any more due to the severe drought. Therefore, we redirect our funds to snail studies. The 2023 growing season will be an opportunity to continue our snail research. The objectives for the current year are to identify the species of slugs and snails attacking crops, to identify environmental conditions associated with mollusk outbreak, and to determine the most effective molluscicides in field and laboratory conditions.