Controlling small pointed (conical) snails in southern WA

BACKGROUND The small pointed (conical) snail (Prietocella barbara) was introduced into Australia from Europe in the early1900’s. In Western Australia, these snails extend between Eucla and Karratha. The small pointed snail has been found on all soil types from acidic sands to those with a high pH. It has been estimated that in 70 % of years at least 5 % of all cropped land in WA is damaged by snails, including the small pointed snail. The potential loss of yield from broad-acre crops due to snail damage, if no control measures are put in place, is conservatively estimated at over 6 million dollars. Whereas, it is estimated that $ 3 million is spent annually on control by growers in WA (Murray et al. 2012). Best practice control strategies for pointed snails involve not just baiting but using other strategies to decrease available food sources eg weed control and by decreasing suitable habitat used for snail survival over the summer period eg through stubble management. See Baker and Hopkins (2003) and Micic et al. (2007) for further information. Furthermore in WA, some growers have found that baits do not effectively control an entire population of snails and have raised concerns over bait choice. There have been a number of enquiries as to whether there was a spray option that was rain-fast and would either cause mortality or repel snails sufficiently to negate economic crop damage.