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Unusually moist and cool summer-autumn conditions over the past few years have resulted in a sharp rise in snail populations and activity. There are three common snail species known to attack seedling crops and pastures in autumn and winter: the small pointed snail (Cochlicella barbara); the white Italian snail (Theba pisana); and the common white snail (Cernuella virgata). The occurrence of these snails is increasing in many regions within Victoria, South Australia and southern New South Wales.
Snails tend to have a preference for soils with naturally high pH and calcium levels. We have recently had a report from a farmer near Nhill, in the Mallee district of Victoria, who mentioned snails had quickly became an issue in paddocks following the application of lime. It is good proactive management practice to regularly check fence posts and roadside vegetation in summer and early autumn for signs of new snail populations. Early detection equals early control.
Snails break their summer dormancy and become active with the onset of cool and moist weather conditions. They will then begin to mate and lay eggs. Eggs are laid within the first 1 cm of the soil surface in clusters. They hatch 2-3 weeks after being laid. It is important to monitor snail population size and movement on a regular basis.
Baiting can be an effective option to control snails. However, it is important to bait early enough in the season to control snails that are moving off their resting places but before they reproduce and lay eggs. This is because baits are less effective against juvenile snails - which are any snails hatching from eggs laid this season.
What is PestFacts?
PestFacts south-eastern keeps growers and advisers informed about invertebrate pests and beneficials in broadacre crops and pastures during the winter-cropping season in Victoria and southern New South Wales.
PestFacts south-eastern is run through IPMforGrains: Best Practice Insect Pest Management, a project delivered by the National Pest Information Network (cesar, DPIRD, QDAF, NSW DPI, and SARDI). This project aims to provide grain growers and advisors with information on invertebrate grain pest occurrence and equip industry with the knowledge needed to implement integrated pest management practices. This initiative is a GRDC investment and includes in-kind contributions from all project partner organisations.
We need your reports
PestFacts is produced on an ʻas-needsʼ basis and relies upon pest observations and field reports from our subscribers. If you have recently observed invertebrate pests (or beneficial species) in broadacre crops, please contact us to report your observations.
Agricultural invertebrate identification
If you are a grower or agronomist in Victoria or NSW working with broadacre crops or pastures, we can assist you with identifying invertebrates found on farms at no cost. Please contact us for identification help.
PestFacts map
PestFacts map is an interactive tool that allows users to search and view historical pest reports across Victoria and NSW. The map is updated with each issue of PestFacts to include new reports.
How to acknowledge PestFacts?
With appropriate acknowledgement, cesar grants permission to reproduce information taken directly from PestFacts. To cite PestFacts: “PestFacts south-eastern (<<enter date published>>). cesar pty ltd.”
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0484 310 697
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