Slugs and Snails

Four exotic snail and slug species are major pests to Australian grain crops. Most of the snails are from the Mediterranean. They attack seedlings, cause plant damage and impact yields.

Snails climb crop plants in spring. They contaminate the grain harvest. This causes high costs for growers. They face expenses like harvester changes, machinery damage, and grain cleaning after harvest. It can also lower grain value and lead to rejections. This also creates market risks for the industry.

Slugs breed and thrive in wet conditions. They are expanding into areas they have not traditionally affected. This includes places with an average rainfall of less than 500ml a year. Planning and implementing control methods for slugs is difficult. This is because they do not have a set lifecycle.

The effective management of snails and slugs is vital for growers' profits. Improving control of these pests has been a priority since the 1980s. Growers can use a long-lasting slug and snail bait to help protect young crops. It is rain resistant, attractive, tasty, and spreads evenly.