Toxic effects of molluscicidal baits to the terrestrial isopod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porcellionides pruinosus</Emphasis> (Brandt, 1833)

Purpose  

Methiocarb and metaldehyde are the most common molluscicides applied in agricultural and horticultural fields in Portugal and elsewhere in Europe. The application of molluscicidal baits to control slug and snail populations can pose a threat to non-target organisms like terrestrial isopods, because they are detritivorous and may feed on the toxic baits applied to the soil surface. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects and understand the modes of action of these molluscicides to terrestrial isopods.