Developing management for Bulimulis bonariensis snails in citrus

Developing management for Bulimulis bonariensis snails in citrus

Report Date: 04/13/2023
Project: 22-014   Year: 2023
Category: Other
Author: Lauren Diepenbrock
Sponsor: Citrus Research and Development Foundation

1. Please state project objectives and what work was done this quarter to address them:1. Document laboratory and field biologyPopulations of Bulimulus bonariensis have been collected and are being maintained in labs at the CREC and IRREC. At present, observational studies are underway prior to laboratory experimentation.In the grove, traps have been deployed at two sites, with a third to follow soon, to document their activity in groves. Embedded in this study is a comparison of two trap types- a flat trap that has been used in row crops to quantify this snail, and a pyramid one similar to Diaprepes traps that are intended to take advantage of the snails’ climbing behavior with the anticipation that this may be an easier to tool down the road to use for growers to monitor activity. To date, only a few juvenile snails have been collected on both trap types.2. Please state what work is anticipated for next quarter:1. Document laboratory and field biologyField trapping will continue through the next quarter.2. Determine factors that influence snail movement/dispersalIn outdoor arenas, we will manipulate moisture, shade, and to a lesser degree temperature to evaluate the impacts of each of these factors on movement of B. bonariensis. 3. We plan to begin field evaluations for baits previously explored in the laboratory in two groves starting May 20234. Determine if arthropod or mammalian predators exist in groves for Bulimulus bonariensisWe will order the camera traps for this objective and begin to develop the field parameters for this work5. Explore nematodes as a management option for B. bonariensisCo-PI Quinn has applied for the permits to obtain the predatory nematode of interest to test in her lab. This process may take months and in the coming quarter her lab will obtain native predatory nematodes to determine if any of these species may have an impact on the snails. 3. Please state budget status (underspend or overspend, and why):We are currently underspent due to unforeseen challenges in recruiting graduate students. This is remedied and we will have 2 MS students starting in the fall to pick up the pace on this work.  


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