New Snail and Slug Active Ingredient Available

[From the May 2013 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin newsletter]

For the last 30 years, the primary mol­lusk (snail and slug)

baits used in the landscaping industry have been those containing metaldehyde as the active in­gredient. About 10 years ago, iron phos­phate came on the market and is now also widely used, particularly in areas where people and pets may encounter the molluscicide. Recently a new active ingredient, ferric sodium EDTA, has become available for both home use and professional pest management.

You can find this active ingredient in new formulations of Corry's Slug & Snail Killer as well as Dr. T's Slug & Snail Killer, Slugexx, Iron Fist Slug & Snail Bait, Amdro Snail Block Slug & Snail Killer, and Ferroxx. Ferroxx is marketed

to the professional, while all of the others are available to both home and professional users. Depending on the brand, these products contain 2 to 6% active ingredient (Table 1).

Although all these active ingredients are effective against snails (Figure 1) and slugs (Figure 2), there are impor­tant differences. Metaldehyde works very quickly, and you will see foaming and dead snails by the morning if ap­plied at night. However, metaldehyde can poison and even kill dogs and other mammals that might feed on it.

Iron phosphate is much safer but also much slower acting. Snails may stop feeding on plants after consuming iron phosphate baits but can take up to seven days to die. On the plus side, iron phosphate may be more effective than metaldehyde during periods of high humidity or if there are rainy conditions.

The newest active ingredient, ferric sodium EDTA, works in a similar man­ner to iron phosphate but is somewhat faster—three days instead of seven. EDTA is used to make the iron (fer­ric) more available and therefore kill the mollusks faster. Still, be aware that these new products, as well as the oth­ers, ought to be used in a way so that pets and children won't be tempted to eat the pellets.

Also note that recommended appli­cation rates for ferric sodium EDTA may be considerably lower than iron phosphate (Table 2). Formulated iron phosphate and ferric sodium EDTA molluscicides look very similar, so it is important to check the label to be certain the product is applied at the appropriate rates. To be most effec­tive, products containing the active ingredients metaldehyde, ferric sodium EDTA, or iron phosphate should be broadcast or spread, not piled, near areas where the mollusks are causing damage (Figure 3).

Applicators and maintenance workers should also be reminded to remove plant debris and other snail and slug hiding places and to avoid overwater­ing, which increases mollusk activity.

For more information about snail and slug management, see Pest Notes: Snails and Slugs. Briefer versions of this informa­tion, called Quick Tips, are also avail­able on the UC IPM Web site both in English and Span­ish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This article was originally published in the May 2013 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin. See this and other articles at http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/greenbulletin/index.html.