Mechanical and agricultural process for controlling Eobania vermiculata (Gastropoda: Helicidae) in citrus orchards in Qalubia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

The effect of some mechanical and agricultural control methods has been evaluated against Eobania vermiculata (Müller) (Gastropoda: Helicidae), snail under field conditions. Outcomes revealed that hand collection of some points at mid-autumn to early wintry weather gave a reduction percentage of 60.43% in the long run in four weeks with a general mean of 73.99%. Therefore, the number of snails laying eggs decreased. Also, a ploughing process in February and March duration gave reduction percentages of 57.8% at the end of the four weeks, while at the same time general mean was 69.29%. As a result, the number of snails and hatchable eggs decreased while hand collection during mid-April and May and gave a reduction percentage of 23.27% in the long run of the four weeks whereas the general mean was 44.507%. The impact of some trap types for land snails such as wet Sacking, Plastic Sheets, and molasses+ wheat was used as snail-appealing material that will compare their suitability for attracting snails in traps. It's far apparent that the very best recorded numbers of snails have been sheltered under portions of wetted Sacking+ molasses + wheat which gave (108), Plastic sheets+ molasses + wheat (17) while recorded (40) and (10) for sacking and plastic sheets (Without any attractive), respectively after 72 hrs. of remedy so it can be recommended that ploughing, wetted Sacking best (Attractive ) and hand collection were the best processes for E. vermiculata snail population reduction in citrus orchards.