An alternative to molluscicides? Toward a push-pull strategy against invasive snails using chemical and visual stimuli
Data files
Oct 02, 2025 version files 209.58 KB
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Color_post_choice_pisana__virgata__acuta___barbara.csv
31.62 KB
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Color_strip_choice_Cernuella_virgata.csv
16.88 KB
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Color_strip_choice_Cochlicella_acuta.csv
16.85 KB
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Color_strip_choice_Cochlicella_barbara.csv
16.84 KB
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Color_strip_choice_Theba_pisana.csv
16.72 KB
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Dry_barrier_Cernuella_virgata.csv
11.71 KB
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Dry_barrier_Cochlicella_acuta.csv
11.55 KB
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Dry_barrier_Cochlicella_barbara.csv
11.55 KB
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Dry_barrier_Theba_pisana.csv
11.65 KB
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Field_test_pisana___virgata.csv
6.80 KB
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README.md
2.04 KB
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Test_Theba_Barrier_24h.csv
7.70 KB
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Wet_barrier_Cernuella_virgata.csv
12.04 KB
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Wet_barrier_Cochlicella_acuta.csv
11.84 KB
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Wet_barrier_Cochlicella_barbara.csv
11.85 KB
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Wet_barrier_Theba_pisana.csv
11.93 KB
Abstract
Four invasive Mediterranean snails (Theba pisana (Müller), Cernuella virgata (da Costa), Cochlicella acuta (Müller) and Cochlicella barbara (Linnaeus)) cost $170 million yearly to the grain industry in Australia. Their impact is mainly due to their estivation behavior: snails climb on cereal stalks to rest during summer, which coincides with harvest, causing grain contamination issues. Diverse management methods have been developed to regulate snail populations, with limited success. Our study aims at investigating the potential for a push pull strategy to divert invasive snails from cultivated fields. First, artificial estivation supports of different colors were tested under laboratory and field conditions and showed that red supports were the most attractive for these snails. Second, different substances were tested as potential snail deterrents (garlic, coffee, coffee grounds, copper). Garlic extracts were the most powerful snail deterrent and were shown to effectively protect an estivation support and food source from snails under laboratory conditions. These results, which were highly consistent for the four species, illustrate the potential of a push-pull strategy against invasive snails in Australia. A “push” part based on the use of a chemical deterrent repelling snails from the cultivated field, and a “pull” part based on offering attractive estivation supports for snails to aggregate outside the cultivated field. It is the first attempt to develop a push-pull strategy based on manipulating the estivation behavior of a pest and to rely on both visual and chemical stimuli to achieve results.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c2fqz61hf
Data from all experiments performed are included as CSV files.
Description of the data and file structure
Data from all experiments described in the manuscript are included as CSV files. Files can be imported in R. Abbreviations are described in each file.
Color_strip_choice_Cernuella_virgata.csv
Color_strip_choice_Cochlicella_acuta.csv
Color_strip_choice_Cochlicella_barbara.csv
Color_strip_choice_Theba_pisana.csv
These files contain the data from the color strip choice tests (black vs. another color) for each snail species separately - Theba pisana, Cernuella virgata, Cochlicella acuta and Cochlicella barbara
Color_post_choice_pisana__virgata__acuta___barbara.csv
This file contains the data from the color post choice tests (black vs. another color) for the four snail species - Theba pisana, Cernuella virgata, Cochlicella acuta and Cochlicella barbara
Field_test_pisana___virgata.csv
This file contains the data from the field post choice tests (black vs. red) for Theba pisana and Cernuella virgata.
Dry_barrier_Cernuella_virgata.csv
Dry_barrier_Cochlicella_acuta.csv
Dry_barrier_Cochlicella_barbara.csv
Dry_barrier_Theba_pisana.csv
These files contain the data from the dry barrier tests for each snail species separately - Theba pisana, Cernuella virgata, Cochlicella acuta and Cochlicella barbara
Wet_barrier_Cernuella_virgata.csv
Wet_barrier_Cochlicella_acuta.csv
Wet_barrier_Cochlicella_barbara.csv
Wet_barrier_Theba_pisana.csv
These files contain the data from the wet barrier tests for each snail species separately - Theba pisana, Cernuella virgata, Cochlicella acuta and Cochlicella barbara.
Test_Theba_Barrier_24h.csv
These files contain the data from the 24-hour barrier tests for Theba pisana.