Biological control of terrestrial molluscs using Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita--progress and prospects.

Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita Schneider (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) is a nematode that parasitises a wide range of slug and snail species. It has been formulated into a biological control agent (Nemaslug) and was commercialised in 1994. It is now available in fourteen European countries.

Increased response to cadmium and Bacillus thuringiensis maize toxicity in the snail Helix aspersa infected by the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita.

To determine the effect of nematode infection on the response of snails to selected toxins, we infected Helix aspersa with 0-, 0.25-, 1-, or 4-fold the recommended field dose of a commercial nematode application for agricultural use. In the first experiment, the snails also were exposed to cadmium via food and soil at concentrations of 0, 30, 60, 120, or 240 mg/kg in a full-factorial design.