Biological Control of Terrestrial Molluscs

Terrestrial molluscs, notably slugs and snails, are among the most destructive pests affecting agriculture, horticulture and natural habitats worldwide. Conventional chemical molluscicides have long dominated management strategies, yet growing concerns over environmental contamination, non-target effects and regulatory restrictions have driven the search for sustainable alternatives. Biological control harnesses natural enemies—parasitic nematodes, predatory insects and microbial agents—to suppress mollusc populations while minimising chemical inputs. Advances in understanding host–pathogen interactions, microbial symbioses and mollusc behaviour have expanded the toolkit available to practitioners, enabling targeted interventions such as push–pull systems that exploit sensory cues, and deployment of specialist nematodes that induce mortality through infection. Research has also highlighted the importance of ecosystem-level impacts and non-target susceptibility, underscoring the need for rigorous assessment of agent specificity and long-term ecological consequences. As the global imperative for food security intensifies, integrated approaches combining cultural practices, habitat manipulation and biocontrol agents offer a path towards environmentally benign mollusc management.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have explored novel behavioural and physiological interventions to divert or suppress invasive snail populations. One investigation tested a push–pull strategy combining visual and chemical stimuli to redirect Mediterranean snail pests away from cereal fields, demonstrating that red-coloured estivation supports effectively attract aggregating snails while garlic extracts serve as potent repellents. Laboratory and field trials confirmed reduced crop contamination and suggested practical designs for trap-and-prevent systems. In a foundational analysis of gastropod immunity, research revealed that the internal shell layer of several snail species can encapsulate and kill parasitic nematodes by adhering to their cuticle, pointing to an evolved defensive mechanism that may inspire biomimetic approaches or inform the selection of more virulent biocontrol strains. This work underscores the value of uncovering intrinsic mollusc defences when developing next-generation control tactics.

Biological Control of Terrestrial Molluscs publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in biological control of terrestrial molluscs across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biological control: Deliberate use of living organisms to reduce pest populations.

Gastropod: Member of the mollusc class Gastropoda, encompassing slugs and snails.

Nematode: Unsegmented roundworm, some species of which parasitise molluscs.

Molluscicide: Chemical or biological agent designed to kill or deter molluscs.

Push–pull strategy: Integrated pest-management approach using repellent (push) and attractive (pull) stimuli to manipulate pest behaviour.

Dysbiosis: Disruption of the normal microbial community within a host’s gut.

References

1. A parasitic nematode induces dysbiosis in susceptible but not resistant gastropod hosts. MicrobiologyOpen (2023).
2. Toward a push–pull strategy against invasive snails using chemical and visual stimuli. Scientific Reports (2024).
3. The gastropod shell has been co-opted to kill parasitic nematodes. Scientific Reports (2017).
4. Microbiome Analysis of Malacopathogenic Nematodes Suggests No Evidence of a Single Bacterial Symbiont Responsible for Gastropod Mortality. Frontiers in Immunology (2022).
5. A Literature Review of Biological and Bio-Rational Control Strategies for Slugs: Current Research and Future Prospects. Insects (2021).