Australian research has found that an invasive snail species can be repelled by garlic and attracted by the color red.
The study, which was published by national science agency the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on Wednesday, revealed unexpected insights into pest snails that researchers said could be used to reduce the threat they pose to crops.
The research team conducted laboratory and field tests on four species of invasive snails and found that they prefer the color red but dislike garlic, and to a lesser extent coffee.
Valerie Caron, a Senior Research Scientist from the CSIRO, said the snails' attraction to the color red was a surprise because the general scientific consensus is that gastropods cannot see color.
Cernuella virgata, also known as Helicella virgata, the "vineyard snail," is one of the invasive Mediterranean snails in Australia. /CFP
She said the team is ultimately working towards using red as an attractant for trapping and removing invasive snails and repellents, such as garlic, as barriers to protect crops.
"Garlic was most effective at preventing snails from reaching food sources under laboratory conditions. Coffee barriers offered only limited protection, especially after 24 hours, with some snails even eating the coffee grounds," Caron said in a media release.
The study was part of a 4.6 million Australian dollar (3.04 million U.S. dollar) Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) national research program designed to provide Australian farmers with new tools and techniques to control pest snails and reduce impact on grain crops.
According to the GRDC, invasive snails and slugs contaminate cereal and legume crops, causing damage worth 170 million Australian dollar (112.4 million U.S. dollar) every year.
(Cover image: White garden snails. /CFP)