Even though snails are small creatures, an invasive species that’s been causing serious trouble in Australia is making life a nightmare for farmers and gardeners alike.
A team from the University of the Sunshine Coast dug deep—literally—into the snails’ slime to understand their impact, and they’ve shared their breakthrough findings with the world through a recent press release.
The snail in focus, Theba pisana, multiplies at a mind-boggling pace and often infests crops, particularly wheat, leading to significant losses. Estimates suggest that the Australian grain sector suffers up to $170 million in losses every year due to these pesky invaders.
As the researchers explained, farms in Australia usually battle these snails with specialized pesticides designed specifically to tackle mollusks. However, these treatments have become less effective over time, and scientists think they’ve cracked the code on this issue.
While studying the biology of these land snails, the team identified a powerful enzyme present in their slime that resisted the influence of common toxic pesticides. This ability allows the nasty snails to gain an upper hand against our crops.
Essentially, this defensive trick points to the idea that the enzyme adapted over time due to extensive pesticide usage. This phenomenon is similar to chemical resistance seen in other pests like ticks and flies.
Ph.D. researcher Inali Lutschini shared their excitement, stating, “It’s an exciting result because we weren’t expecting this in a land snail species.” It’s clear this discovery opens the door to new possibilities.
The researchers are now exploring practical applications for their findings. For example, utilizing venom from spiders that prey on snails could serve as a safer alternative, reducing snail resistance and ultimately improving our food systems.
There are also implications here for tackling other invasive snail problems based on this research.
Most importantly, steering clear of excessive pesticide use is excellent for the ecosystem—and that includes keeping humans safe too. Alternative methods rooted in natural solutions can be both cost-effective and successful in combating unwanted pests.
For those interested, the full findings from this study can be found in the PLOS One journal.
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This piece on scientists’ breakthrough against the ‘super snail’ that harms crops initially appeared on The Cool Down.
