Gastropods

Slugs and snails

General

• Distribution in the Overseas Departments:

• Gastropods are particularly fond of leafy vegetables such as cabbage and lettuce, but also attack the foliage of cucurbits and solanaceous.
• The species Achatina immaculata commonly called giant African snail is listed in Guyana and Reunion.
• Observed in the open field as well as under shelter.

Symptoms, damage

• The damage is mainly noted on leafy vegetables
• Severe damage from rachis was noted on cucumber fruit in Cacao (Guyana) (Figure 10).

Biology

Slugs and snails are hermaphrodites, meaning each individual has the ability to produce eggs and offspring after mating.

Protection

• The methods of combating these animals are quite controversial, particularly with regard to the methods of trapping. Placing food traps in the plots kills gastropods but only attracts them within a radius of a few meters.
• by Maintaining manicured plots limiting weeds, debris and residues reduces the places where slugs can stay and reproduce.
• Certain auxiliaries such as ground beetles consume slugs. Coal particles and ashes placed around plants can have a repellent and irritant effect against gastropods.
• The mechanical actions of ridging and hoeing can destroy the eggs and disturb the activity of the slugs.