Evaluation of attractants for traps of the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata in a rice field

Abstract

The effectiveness of potential trap baits for the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata was evaluated in a rice field in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Four kinds of baits were tested: rice bran, carp pellets, goldfish pellets, and a mixture containing rice bran, carp pellets, and rice malt in a 1:1:1 ratio. The trap yields were investigated three times (1, 6, and 7 days) after deployment. Traps with mixed bait attracted the highest number of snails for all investigations. The yield decreased over time with other bait types, but the mixed bait remained an effective lure for the longest time, probably because rice malt continued to produce sugar and slowed the decay of the bait.