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Molluscicides (/məˈlʌskˌsd, -ˈlʌs-/[1][2]), also known as snail baits and snail pellets, are pesticides against molluscs, which are usually used in agriculture or gardening, in order to control gastropod pests specifically slugs and snails which damage crops or other valued plants by feeding on them.

A number of chemicals can be employed as a molluscicide:

Accidental poisonings[edit]

Main article: Pesticide poisoning

Metal salt-based molluscicides are not toxic to higher animals. However, metaldehyde-based and especially acetylcholinesterase inhibitor-based products are highly toxic, and have resulted in many deaths of pets and humans. Some products contain a bittering agent that reduces but does not eliminate the risk of accidental poisoning. Anticholinergic drugs such as atropine can be used as an antidote for acetylcholinesterase inhibitor poisoning. There is no antidote for metaldehyde, the treatment is symptomatic.

Methiocarb can cause acute toxicity to people exposed to it for long periods of time and will also poison water organisms.[3]

See also[edit]


  1. ^ "Molluscicide". OUP. Retrieved 2016-01-22. 
  2. ^ "Molluscicide". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 2016-01-22. 
  3. ^ "Methiocarb". PAN Pesticides Database - Chemicals. Retrieved 2012-10-29. 

External links[edit]