Pilot Study Testing a Natural and a Synthetic Molluscicide for Controlling Invasive Apple Snails (Pomacea maculata)

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 96; no. 3; pp. 289 - 294
• Main Authors: Olivier, Heather M., Jenkins, Jill A., Berhow, Mark, Carter, Jacoby
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-03-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Biological control; Cambaridae; Camellia sinensis; Camellia sinensis - chemistry; Chemical synthesis; Crop production; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental changes; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Insects; Introduced Species; Lepomis microlophus; Louisiana; Mollusca; Molluscacides - pharmacology; Mollusks; Mortality; Niclosamide - pharmacology; Pilot Projects; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Pollution; Pomacea; Procambarus clarkii; Seeds - chemistry; Snails - drug effects; Soil Science & Conservation; Survival Analysis; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; South America; Louisiana; Asia; ASW, South America; ASW, USA, Louisiana; Niclosamide; Invasive species; Tea seed; Pomacea
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-015-1709-z

Pomacea maculata (formerly P. insularum), an apple snail native to South America, was discovered in Louisiana in 2008. These snails strip vegetation, reproduce at tremendous rates, and have reduced rice production and caused ecosystem changes in Asia. In this pilot study snails were exposed to two molluscicides, a tea (Camellia sinensis) seed derivative (TSD) or niclosamide monohydrate (Pestanal®, 2′,5-dichloro-4′-nitrosalicylanilide, CAS #73360-56-2). Mortality was recorded after exposure to high or low concentrations (0.03 and 0.015 g/L for TSD, 1.3 and 0.13 mg/L for niclosamide). The TSD induced 100 % mortality at both concentrations. Niclosamide caused 100 % and 17 % mortality at high and low concentrations respectively. These molluscicides were also tested on potential biocontrol agents, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus). No crayfish mortalities occurred at either concentration for either chemical, but sunfish experienced 100 % mortality with TSD (0.03 g/L), and 21 % mortality with niclosamide (0.13 mg/L).