Several terrestrial snail and slug species are causing serious problems in various horticultural settings in the continental US including fruit (e.g., citrus, strawberries, blueberries), vegetables…

Several terrestrial snail and slug species are causing serious problems in various horticultural settings in the continental US including fruit (e.g., citrus, strawberries, blueberries), vegetables and ornamentals. These are serious problems that affect agricultural products, by reducing profitability, increasing production costs, or lowering product quality. Examples of these pests are the non-native bulimulus SPP. (snails, bulimulidae), deroceras SPP. (slugs, agriolimacidae), arion SPP. (slugs, arionidae), xerolenta obvia (snails, geomitridae), cornu aspersum (snails, helicidae). Management of mollusk populations often relies on chemical molluscicides, typically applied in granular bait form, which are relatively expensive, less effective under the wet conditions that favor slugs and snails, and toxic to wildlife. Therefore, there is a critical need in developing alternative methods to molluscicides to be used by growers against slugs and snails. The goal of the present research and extension planning project is to facilitate two workshops to prepare the submission of a scri proposal for 2026. In addition to these workshops, a website will be launched, a need assessment will be conducted among stakeholders to tailors the research and extension objectives of the futur proposal, and a review paper will be submitted.