Device and method for luring and controlling African larva snails

Abstract

The invention discloses a device and method for luring and controlling African larva snails, and the device comprises a luring shed which is internally provided with a microenvironment for simulating the shady, cool and moist environment; the trapping paste is arranged in the trapping shed and is used for continuously releasing volatile trapping substances; the plant source control agent is arranged above or on the peripheral side of the trapping paste; wherein the trapping shed, the trapping paste and the plant source control agent are spatially combined and configured to synergistically realize that the African giant snails enter the device through environment simulation and smell trapping, and then the feeding behavior of the African giant snails is intervened through the plant source control agent. According to the invention, a multi-layer and step-by-step action system is constructed by synergistically combining a trapping shed for simulating a shady, cool and moist microenvironment, trapping paste for continuously releasing volatile trapping substances and a plant source control agent for intervening feeding behaviors in space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of agricultural pest control technology, specifically to a device for attracting and controlling the giant African snail and its application method. Background Technology

[0002] The giant African snail is a major invasive agricultural pest worldwide. It has a broad diet, high reproductive capacity, and strong environmental adaptability, causing widespread and serious damage to vegetables, fruits, grain crops, and economic forests. Its nocturnal habits, preference for shade and damp environments, and its powerful reproductive and survival capabilities make its monitoring and control extremely difficult.

[0003] Currently, the control of the African giant snail mainly relies on a combination of physical, chemical, and biological control measures. Physical control, such as manual capture, is inefficient and labor-intensive; chemical control, such as spraying molluscicides, is fast-acting but has problems such as pesticide residues, environmental pollution, and harm to non-target beneficial organisms; biological control, such as using natural enemies, has unstable effects and is difficult to apply on a large scale.

[0004] In recent years, some control technologies based on trapping devices have emerged. For example, CN113317304A discloses a trapping box for the giant African snail, which uses a metal box body and a comb-like toothed structure, combined with dried granular poison bait made from roasted wheat bran, yam, and henbane for trapping. This technology achieves the trapping function to a certain extent, but its attraction method is singular, mainly relying on the scent of the bait itself, and the attraction effect decreases significantly in high-temperature and dry environments; moreover, the palatability of the dried bait is poor, affecting the feeding rate and control effect. CO2024017931U1 discloses a folding physical trap that uses a geometric structure combined with a bait pad to trap snails. It lacks effective active attraction and environmental control capabilities, has limited capture efficiency, and cannot kill the snails directly after capture, requiring secondary manual processing, which increases operating costs and health risks.

[0005] In the process of realizing this invention, the inventors discovered that at least one of the following technical problems exists in the prior art: a) Existing trapping devices rely on a single attraction method, depending on the natural scent of the bait or simple attractants. They lack active control over environmental factors (such as humidity), which leads to a sharp decline in attraction efficiency under adverse environmental conditions such as high temperature and drought. b) Existing escape prevention structures (such as comb-shaped racks and inverted inclined planes) are mainly designed for snails that have already entered the device, and lack an active and long-term attraction mechanism for snails at a distance, with a limited radius of effect; c) Most existing poison baits are made into dry granules, which does not match the African giant snail's preference for moist and soft food, resulting in low feeding rate and affecting the final control effect; d) Existing technologies often simply combine attraction and poisoning functions, lacking a systematic and multi-level synergistic design. The functions of each component are isolated, failing to achieve a progressive and efficient attraction and control system of "environment simulation - odor guidance - feeding control". Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a systematic device and method that can actively create a suitable microenvironment, achieve long-term long-distance attraction, and have excellent palatability, so as to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and achieve more efficient, environmentally friendly and stable control of the African giant snail.

[0007] Through long-term exploration and experimentation, and continuous reform and innovation, the inventor has provided a device for attracting and controlling the giant African snail, comprising: [device details omitted for brevity] The trapping shed is designed to simulate a cool and humid microenvironment. An attractant paste, placed inside the attractant shed, is used to continuously release volatile attractant substances; A plant-derived control agent is disposed above or around the attractant paste; The attraction shed, the attraction paste, and the plant-derived control agent are spatially combined to synergistically attract African giant snails into the device through environmental simulation and odor, and then intervene in their feeding behavior through the plant-derived control agent.

[0008] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: This invention constructs a multi-layered, step-by-step system by spatially combining three components: a trapping enclosure simulating a cool, humid microenvironment, a trapping paste continuously releasing volatile attractants, and a plant-derived control agent intervening in feeding behavior. The system first uses the enclosure to create and maintain a stable, high-humidity habitat for primary attraction. Then, the paste releases a specific slow-release odor for secondary guidance over a longer distance, making it easier for African giant snails to find and enter the device. Once inside, their feeding behavior is effectively intervened by the plant-derived control agent within the device, thus achieving efficient management of the entire process from environmental attraction and directional guidance to behavioral control. Compared to existing single-function physical trap boxes or baits relying on natural odor diffusion, the synergistic effect of the components in this invention significantly improves the attraction efficiency and continuous control of African giant snails in complex field environments, while reducing dependence on external environmental conditions.

[0009] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows: Further: the trapping shed includes: The canopy has a sunshade structure at the top and is surrounded by breathable mesh fabric on all sides. Multiple channels are provided on the breathable mesh fabric, with the openings of the channels facing the interior of the shed, forming a one-way entrance for snails to enter only. A humidification system is installed inside the greenhouse to actively maintain a high humidity environment inside the greenhouse.

[0010] Compared with the existing technology, the beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned further technical solution are as follows: By combining a shading structure, breathable mesh fabric, and an active humidification system, a dark, humid microenvironment highly suited to the preferences of the giant African snail is precisely constructed and stably maintained, significantly improving the effectiveness of initial environmental attraction. Simultaneously, multiple one-way entrance channels on the enclosure ensure efficient diffusion of the attractant's odor while guaranteeing easy entry but difficult exit for the snails, thus effectively enhancing the device's capture and control efficiency.

[0011] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows: Furthermore, the humidification system includes a humidifier and a humidifying sheet made of a moisturizing material. The humidifier continuously supplies water to the humidifying sheet to maintain the relative humidity inside the greenhouse at 75%-85%.

[0012] Compared with the existing technology, the beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned further technical solution are as follows: By combining the humidifier and humidifying pads, the humidity inside the greenhouse is actively, continuously, and precisely controlled, and is stably maintained within the optimal range of 75%-85% for the giant African snail, thereby significantly enhancing the device's environmental attraction effectiveness for the target organism.

[0013] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows: Furthermore, the attractant paste contains α-pinene and isoamyl acetate.

[0014] Compared with the existing technology, the beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned further technical solution are as follows: By utilizing α-pinene and isoamyl acetate, two volatile components with clear attraction activity to the African giant snail, a stable, long-lasting, and highly targeted chemical attraction signal was provided for the device, thereby significantly enhancing its long-distance attraction capability.

[0015] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows: Furthermore, the plant-derived control agent comprises a mixture of dried powder of Datura stramonium flowers, dried powder of Euphorbia helioscopia plant, and dried powder of Dioscorea zingiberensis rhizome.

[0016] Compared with the existing technology, the beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned further technical solution are as follows: By combining three plant-derived components—Datura flower, Euphorbia helioscopia, and Dioscorea zingiberensis—multi-target synergistic intervention on the nervous system, mucous membranes, and physiological metabolism of the African giant snail was achieved, thereby significantly improving the control effect and reliability of the action.

[0017] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows: Furthermore, the ratio of the dried powder of Datura stramonium flower, dried powder of Euphorbia helioscopia plant, and dried powder of Dioscorea zingiberensis root and stem in the plant-derived control agent is as follows: 15-25 parts of dried powder of Datura stramonium flower, 10-20 parts of dried powder of Euphorbia helioscopia plant, and 40-60 parts of dried powder of Dioscorea zingiberensis root and stem.

[0018] Compared with the existing technology, the beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned further technical solution are as follows: The optimized formulation, verified through experiments, maximizes the synergistic effect of the three plant-derived components, ensuring efficient control of the African giant snail while also maintaining the stability and controllability of the formulation.

[0019] The present invention also provides a method for attracting giant African snails, comprising the following steps: S1. Provide the device; S2. Provide and maintain a cool and humid microenvironment through the trapping shed to generate a first-level attraction for the environmentally sensitive giant African snail; S3. The attractant paste releases volatile odor substances to attract African giant snails at a second distance, guiding them to enter the attractant shed through the one-way entrance.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The attraction method provided by this invention constructs a highly efficient and targeted attraction strategy for the African giant snail by first establishing a stable, high-humidity microenvironment and then applying specific chemical attraction signals in a progressive manner. This method overcomes the limitations of existing technologies that mainly rely on single food odors for attraction, utilizing the synergistic effect of environment and odor to significantly improve target attraction rate and positioning accuracy in complex natural environments. Furthermore, the operation of this method relies on a stable and maintainable device, minimizing the impact of external factors such as weather on the attraction process, and achieving continuous and controllable field attraction effects.

[0021] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows: Furthermore, in step S2, maintaining a relative humidity of 75%-85% inside the trapping shed is achieved by periodically supplying water to the humidifying plate using a humidifier.

[0022] Compared with the existing technology, the beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned further technical solution are as follows: By using a timed water supply to the humidifier, the target humidity range can be maintained accurately, stably, and with low energy consumption, thereby significantly improving the reliability and sustainability of the first-level environmental induction.

[0023] The present invention also provides a method for controlling the giant African snail, comprising implementing the aforementioned attraction method, further comprising: A plant-based control agent is placed inside the device, causing the giant African snails lured into the device to ingest the plant-based control agent, thereby achieving the control effect on the giant African snail population.

[0024] Compared with the existing technology, the beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned further technical solution are as follows: This innovative control method combines efficient attraction with targeted control. After ensuring the aggregation of African giant snails through two stages of initial attraction, control is implemented inside the device, significantly improving the targeting and efficiency of the intervention. Simultaneously, by confining the control process within the device and using plant-derived control agents, this method significantly reduces direct interference and pollution risks to non-target organisms and the surrounding environment, achieving a balance between environmental protection and efficiency.

[0025] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows: Furthermore, the plant-derived control agent is formulated to be moist, forming a ball when squeezed but crumbling when released, to suit the feeding habits of the giant African snail.

[0026] Compared with the existing technology, the beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned further technical solution are as follows: This optimization precisely modulates the physical state of the plant-derived control agent to perfectly match the mouthpart structure and feeding preferences of the African giant snail as it scrapes soft, moist food. This significantly increases the target organism's active feeding rate on the control agent, fundamentally enhancing the reliability and efficiency of control. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a front view schematic diagram of the device of the present invention for attracting and controlling African giant snails.

[0029] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A top-view structural diagram.

[0030] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure.

[0031] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the AA section structure.

[0032] The markings in the diagram are as follows: 100 devices, 110 trapping shed, 111 shading structure, 112 breathable mesh fabric, Channel 113 120 humidification system 121 Humidifier 122 humidifying tablets 200 attractant paste. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The following description is based on specific embodiments.

[0034] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to represent selected embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] In this invention, unless otherwise specified, all equipment and raw materials are available from the market or commonly used in the industry. Unless otherwise specified, the methods in the following embodiments are conventional methods in the art.

[0036] Example 1 This embodiment provides a device 100 for attracting and controlling the giant African snail, such as... Figures 1-4 As shown.

[0037] The device 100 mainly includes a trapping shed 110, a trapping paste 200, and a plant-derived control agent (not shown separately in the figure, but randomly distributed within the device 100).

[0038] The trapping enclosure 110 is used to simulate and provide a cool, humid microenvironment that conforms to the habits of the African giant snail. It mainly includes: The canopy is equipped with a shading structure 111 at the top (e.g., using black or silver shading material) and is surrounded by a breathable mesh fabric 112 to facilitate internal air exchange and induce the diffusion of odors.

[0039] Multiple channels 113: These channels 113 are opened on the breathable mesh 112, and their openings all face the inside of the shed, forming a structure similar to the entrance of a "fish cage". This makes it easy for African giant snails to crawl in from the outside, but difficult for them to crawl out from the inside, thus forming a one-way entrance.

[0040] Humidification system 120: Located inside the enclosure, this system actively regulates and maintains a high humidity environment. It includes a humidifier 121 and a humidifying plate 122 made of a highly absorbent material (such as cotton). The humidifier 121 can be set to operate intermittently (e.g., spraying for 10 seconds per hour), continuously supplying water to the humidifying plate 122. Through the natural evaporation of water from the humidifying plate 122, the relative humidity inside the attraction enclosure 110 is stably maintained within the optimal attraction range of 75%-85%.

[0041] See Figure 4 The humidifying sheet 122 is horizontally positioned directly below the nozzle of the humidifier 121. It is made of highly absorbent cotton fabric with excellent water absorption and slow-release properties. Its function is to receive the water mist or droplets sprayed periodically by the humidifier 121, and to uniformly absorb, store, and slowly evaporate the moisture into the surrounding air through its own fiber structure. This horizontal placement and position design effectively prevents the water droplets generated by the humidifier 121 from dripping directly onto the attractant paste 200 below, thereby preventing the paste from softening due to excessive moisture, premature dissolution of active ingredients, or changes in volatility characteristics. This ensures the continuous and stable release of the attractant substance, while gradually increasing and maintaining the humidity in the greenhouse within the target range of 75%-85% through the evaporation process.

[0042] Alternatively, as a conventional technical extension of this embodiment, a humidity sensor can be conventionally installed in the attraction shed 110 to detect the humidity inside the shed in real time and feed the detection data back to the controller of the humidification system 120. The controller can compare the real-time detection data with a preset target humidity range (e.g., 75%-85%), and then intelligently control the start-up, shutdown, and operating time of the humidifier 121. This closed-loop feedback control mechanism can achieve precise and automatic humidity adjustment, ensuring that the microenvironment is always in the optimal attraction state, while avoiding resource waste caused by over-humidification, further improving the automation level and overall efficiency of the device.

[0043] The attractant paste 200 is a solid slow-release fragrance paste, placed on the bottom surface inside the attractant shed 110. It contains the core volatile attractant components α-pinene and isoamyl acetate. This paste can continuously volatilize the effective components at room temperature, with a volatilization period of 10-15 days, achieving stable and long-lasting long-distance odor attraction for African giant snails.

[0044] In this embodiment, a specific solid sustained-release fragrance is provided: 1. Component composition: Base carrier and setting agent (approximately 93.8 parts by weight, the same below): Vegetable castor seed oil (30 parts) and hydrogenated castor oil (20 parts): These serve as the main oil phase base, providing smoothness to the paste. Hydrogenated castor oil also increases the consistency and hardness of the paste, aiding in setting.

[0045] Microcrystalline wax (10 parts) and carnauba wax (8 parts): As the wax phase, they are key to forming a solid paste structure and providing hardness. They can solidify at room temperature, encapsulate volatile components, and control their release rate through their crystal structure, achieving "slow release".

[0046] Isopropyl myristate (10 parts) and jojoba oil (25 parts): as emollients and plasticizers, they adjust the softness and spreadability of the cream, ensure a uniform texture, and assist in the diffusion and release of active ingredients.

[0047] White cocoa butter (optional): can further optimize the melting point and enhance the stability of the paste.

[0048] Core active attractant ingredient (15 parts): α-Pinene (10 parts): Chemical formula C 10 H 16 It is a monoterpene compound with aromas similar to pine and citrus. Experiments have shown that it has a significant attraction effect on the giant African snail.

[0049] Isoamyl acetate (5 parts): Chemical formula C7H 14 O2 emits a strong aroma of bananas and pears. This scent has been proven to be effective in attracting giant African snails.

[0050] These two ingredients are the source of the balm's alluring power, and their ratio has been optimized to produce the best synergistic alluring effect.

[0051] Auxiliary additives (0.8 parts): Novel preservative (phenoxyethanol, 0.3 parts): Prevents rancidity of oils and fats, ensures that the paste does not mold during storage and use, and maintains stability.

[0052] Vitamin E (0.5 parts): As an antioxidant, it prevents the oxidation of lipid components and protects active substances such as α-pinene from rapid oxidation and decomposition, thereby prolonging the effective induction period.

[0053] 2. Preparation process and its function: The preparation process of solid sustained-release perfumes aims to ensure homogeneity of ingredients, retention of active substances, and the formation of a stable sustained-release structure. Preparation and melting: Weigh the waxes and oils separately and then mix them together, heating in a 60-70℃ water bath. This temperature is sufficient to completely melt and mix all the waxes and oils, and is far below the boiling point of volatile components (such as α-pinene, which has a boiling point of about 155℃), thus avoiding loss during the melting stage.

[0054] Fragrance addition and mixing: After the base liquid has cooled to about 50°C, add α-pinene, isoamyl acetate, vitamin E, and preservatives. The lower temperature minimizes the instantaneous evaporation loss of the fragrance; rapid stirring ensures that it is evenly dispersed in the carrier.

[0055] Filling and Cooling: Pour the homogeneous mixture into an aluminum foil tray with a diameter of 15 cm and a height of 5 cm. The aluminum foil container is less likely to react with the paste and is easy to shape and handle. Allow it to cool at room temperature for 2-4 hours to allow it to solidify slowly and evenly. Slow cooling helps to form a more stable crystal network, better encapsulating volatile components.

[0056] The solid network structure formed by microcrystalline wax and carnauba wax effectively binds and encapsulates α-pinene and isoamyl acetate molecules. The active ingredients can only slowly evaporate and diffuse from the surface of the paste, rather than rapidly volatilizing. Combined with the use of antioxidants, the effective induction and volatilization period of the paste can be extended to 10-15 days, greatly reducing the workload of frequently changing the attractant core in the field.

[0057] The paste, as part of the device, works synergistically with the high-humidity microenvironment provided by the trapping shed. Suitable temperature facilitates the diffusion of volatile molecules, while stable humidity may affect the snails' sensitivity to odors, thus jointly enhancing the long-distance attraction efficiency of the entire system.

[0058] The plant-derived control agent is also placed inside the trap shed 110, typically near or above the trap paste 200. This control agent is a powdery substance composed of dried powders of Datura stramonium flowers, Euphorbia helioscopia plant, and Dioscorea zingiberensis rhizome in a specific ratio (e.g., 20:15:50). Before use, an appropriate amount of water or plant juice is added to adjust it to a moist state where it "can be formed into a ball when squeezed but crumbles easily when released," perfectly matching the feeding preferences of the giant African snail and ensuring that it will actively feed after being lured in.

[0059] This embodiment provides a specific plant-derived control agent, which consists of two parts: a basic artificial feed carrier and a compound plant-derived toxic component, and is made through physical mixing and humidity adjustment.

[0060] Basic artificial feed carrier formulation (per kg dry powder): Wheat bran: 300 g (30%) Corn flour: 250 g (25%) Soybean meal: 150 g (15%) Pumpkin powder: 100 g (10%) Shell powder: 80 g (8%) Yeast powder: 50 g (5%) Multivitamin premix: 20 g (2%) Salt: 5 g (0.5%) Optional additives: To enhance palatability, a small amount of molasses, banana peel powder, or apple peel powder may be added.

[0061] Addition amount of compound plant-derived toxic components (relative to 1 kg of the above-mentioned basic feed): Datura flower powder (20 g): Its core toxic substances are tropane alkaloids (such as scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine). These components mainly act on the nervous system of mollusks, interfering with the normal function of neurotransmitters, leading to symptoms such as cognitive confusion and behavioral disorders (such as head shaking and degenerative peristalsis); it also strongly interferes with the digestive system.

[0062] Euphorbia helioscopia plant powder: 15 g. The whole plant contains a variety of active substances that exert a comprehensive toxicity. Terpenoids (such as euphorbia helioscopia and euphorbia salsa) have a direct inhibitory effect on the nervous and digestive systems of mollusks. Flavonoids and tannins can damage the mucous membrane layer on the surface of mollusks, affecting their water regulation function and normal metabolic processes.

[0063] Shield-leaf Dioscorea rhizome powder: 50 g, its core active ingredient is steroidal saponins (such as diosgenin). These components have surface activity and can effectively disrupt the mucus layer on the surface of the giant African snail, which is essential for retaining moisture, leading to dehydration and decreased mobility. Simultaneously, steroidal saponins can interfere with the digestive and nervous systems of mollusks, causing physiological metabolic disorders.

[0064] The core of the African giant snail's feeding preferences lies in its oral structure (radula), which is well-suited for scraping soft, moist food. Therefore, the final physical state of this control agent is designed and formulated into a moist clump that "forms into a ball when squeezed but crumbles easily when released." This state perfectly matches its scraping habits and digestive capacity, effectively inducing it to actively and in large quantities consume the food. To achieve this state, the particle diameter of the base feed should be controlled below 1 mm, forming a fine, muddy or powdery matrix.

[0065] In this embodiment, the preparation method of the plant-derived control agent is as follows: Preparation and Grinding: Weigh out all the basic feed ingredients and three toxic plant ingredients (Datura flower, Euphorbia helioscopia, and Dioscorea opposita) according to the above formula. Grind all dry powder ingredients separately or together, and pass them through a 60-80 mesh sieve to ensure uniform mixing and fine particles.

[0066] Dry powder mixing: Thoroughly stir the pulverized basic feed dry powder with the three kinds of plant toxic dry powder in a dry container until they are evenly mixed.

[0067] Wet preparation: Add an appropriate amount of liquid to the evenly mixed dry powder. The liquid can be water, fresh vegetable juice (such as cabbage juice, carrot juice), or melon juice. Add the liquid while stirring until the mixture reaches the ideal moist state described above: "can be formed into a ball when squeezed in the hand, but crumbles easily when released." Avoid making it too dry (difficult to eat) or too thin (difficult to form and easy loss of effective ingredients).

[0068] The working principle of the device 100 is as follows: First, the trap shed 110 and its humidification system 120 create a stable and ideal microenvironment to complete the first stage of "environmental attraction"; second, the specific odor released by the trap paste 200 conducts the second stage of "odor attraction" to guide snails into the shed through the channel 113; finally, the snails that have entered feed under the drive of hunger and palatable food (plant-derived control agent), thereby achieving the control of the target population.

[0069] The device in this embodiment has been experimentally verified to be significantly superior to single functional components or control schemes with different ratios in terms of both the number of animals attracted and the control effect, demonstrating the superiority of the collaborative work of each component.

[0070] Example 2 This embodiment describes in detail a method for attracting and preventing African giant snails using the device described in Embodiment 1, and verifies its technical effectiveness through comparative experimental data.

[0071] I. Experimental Design and Methods The experiment was conducted in the insect rearing room of the Institute of Plant Protection, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, a well-ventilated area without direct sunlight. The African giant snails were placed in plastic basins lined with coconut fiber and fed under conditions of 25-30°C and approximately 70% humidity. Fresh lettuce leaves were provided regularly. The experiment was conducted after the snails had adapted to the environment for one week.

[0072] To verify the synergistic effect of the components in the device and method of this invention, the following eight treatments were set up for comparative experiments (see Table 1). Each treatment was repeated three times, and each replicate used 20 healthy African giant snails that had adapted to the environment as test organisms. Each treatment plot was 2 m * 2 m in size, covered with moist coconut fiber, and the attraction device was placed in the center of the experimental plot; the 20 African giant snails were placed in the four corner areas of the square plot. The blank control used an aluminum foil dish with a diameter of 15 cm and a height of 5 cm.

[0073] Table 1 Experimental Treatment Design Note: 1. In processing 5~7, "√*" indicates that the component was used, but its key sub-features are missing.

[0074] After 48 hours, the number of snails that entered the device / aluminum foil tray (the number of snails attracted) and the number of snails that died in the device (the number of dead snails) were counted. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0075] II. Experimental Results and Analysis After the survey data were processed in Excel 2019, SPSS 25.0 was used to perform one-way ANOVA (Duncan test) to compare and test the differences between treatments.

[0076] The statistical data of the observations 48 hours later are shown in Table 2 below.

[0077] Table 2 Statistics and Results Results analysis: Treatment 1 (all components) achieved the best control effect with a significantly higher mortality rate (13.33) than all other treatments. It also had the highest number of attracted organisms (16.33) (comparable to treatment 3). This strongly demonstrates the necessity of the synergistic effect of X (attractant shed), Y (attractant paste), and Z (plant-derived control agent), achieving a comprehensive efficacy of "1+1+1>3".

[0078] Comparing treatment 1 and treatment 4 (without X), the absence of X resulted in a significant decrease in the number of animals attracted (16.33 vs 12.33), demonstrating that the microenvironment created by X is crucial for improving attraction efficiency. Comparing treatment 1 and treatment 7 (X without humidification), while the absence of active humidification did not significantly affect the number of animals attracted, the number of deaths was significantly reduced (13.33 vs 10.33), indicating that a stable high-humidity environment not only facilitates attraction but also creates conditions for the subsequent control agents to function effectively.

[0079] Comparing treatment 1 and treatment 2 (without Y), the absence of Y led to a sharp decrease in the number of snails attracted (16.33 vs 6.33), proving that its long-distance odor attraction is a key step in guiding snails into the device. Comparing treatment 1 and treatment 5 (Y without α-pinene), the absence of the key component α-pinene led to a significant decrease in both the number of snails attracted and the number of dead snails, proving that α-pinene is one of the core substances in which component Y exerts an efficient attraction effect.

[0080] Compared to treatment 3 (without Z), although the number of traps was comparable, the number of deaths was almost zero (13.33 vs 0.33), directly proving that component Z is a necessary element for achieving the final control effect. Compared to treatment 6 (Z without datura), the absence of datura flower powder significantly reduced the number of deaths (13.33 vs 7.00), demonstrating the crucial role of datura flowers in the compound poison.

[0081] This embodiment, through systematic comparative experiments, not only provides specific operational examples of the device and method of the present invention, but also demonstrates with data: The three-step method of "environmental attraction - odor attraction - feeding control" and its corresponding device system provided by this invention are closely linked and indispensable, and have a significant synergistic effect.

[0082] Each key component (X, Y, Z) of the device and its core features (such as the humidification function of X, the α-pinene of Y, and the datura flower of Z) make an irreplaceable contribution to achieving the final, efficient, and reliable control effect of the giant African snail.

[0083] The complete technical solution (process 1) of the present invention is significantly superior to any simplified or inferior solution in terms of overall attraction efficiency and prevention effect, demonstrating its outstanding technical progress and practical value.

[0084] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that "-" and "~" represent a range between two values, and this range includes the endpoints. For example, "AB" represents a range greater than or equal to A and less than or equal to B. "A~B" represents a range greater than or equal to A and less than or equal to B.

[0085] In the description of this invention, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone.

[0086] In the description of the invention, the numerical values ​​of time, temperature, ratio, and mass involved can be based on actual measurements, standard equipment parameters, simplified rounding results, or within an acceptable error range, ensuring the practicality and repeatability of the invention.

[0087] In the description of this invention, the terms “about” or “approximately” are used to express approximate values ​​or ranges, allowing for a certain degree of error to ensure the flexibility and practicality of the description, while remaining within an acceptable range of error, with the maximum error not exceeding 10% of the corresponding value or range.

[0088] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the above preferred embodiments should not be considered as limitations on the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims. For those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for attracting and controlling the giant African snail, characterized in that, include: The trapping shed is designed to simulate a cool and humid microenvironment. An attractant paste, placed inside the attractant shed, is used to continuously release volatile attractant substances; A plant-derived control agent is disposed above or around the attractant paste; The attraction shed, the attraction paste, and the plant-derived control agent are spatially combined to synergistically attract African giant snails into the device through environmental simulation and odor, and then intervene in their feeding behavior through the plant-derived control agent.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The trapping shed includes: The canopy has a sunshade structure at the top and is surrounded by breathable mesh fabric on all sides. Multiple channels are provided on the breathable mesh fabric, with the openings of the channels facing the interior of the shed, forming a one-way entrance for snails to enter only. A humidification system is installed inside the greenhouse to actively maintain a high humidity environment inside the greenhouse.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The humidification system includes a humidifier and a humidifying sheet made of a moisturizing material. The humidifier continuously supplies water to the humidifying sheet to maintain the relative humidity inside the greenhouse at 75%-85%.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The attractant paste contains α-pinene and isoamyl acetate.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plant-derived control agent comprises a mixture of dried powder of Datura stramonium flowers, dried powder of Euphorbia helioscopia plants, and dried powder of Dioscorea zingiberensis rhizomes.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The ratio of dried powder of Datura stramonium flower, dried powder of Euphorbia helioscopia plant, and dried powder of Dioscorea zingiberensis root and stem in the plant-derived control agent is as follows: 15-25 parts dried powder of Datura stramonium flower, 10-20 parts dried powder of Euphorbia helioscopia plant, and 40-60 parts dried powder of Dioscorea zingiberensis root and stem.

7. A method for attracting giant African snails, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Providing the apparatus as described in any one of claims 1-6; S2. Provide and maintain a cool and humid microenvironment through the trapping shed to generate a first-level attraction for the environmentally sensitive giant African snail; S3. The attractant paste releases volatile odor substances to attract African giant snails at a second distance, guiding them to enter the attractant shed through the one-way entrance.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S2, maintaining a relative humidity of 75%-85% in the trapping shed is achieved by periodically supplying water to the humidifying plate using a humidifier.

9. A method for controlling the giant African snail, characterized in that, Including the enticement method described in claim 7 or 8, further comprising: A plant-based control agent is placed inside the device, causing the giant African snails lured into the device to ingest the plant-based control agent, thereby achieving the control effect on the giant African snail population.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The plant-derived control agent is formulated to a moist state that can be formed into a ball when squeezed but crumbles easily when released, in order to suit the feeding habits of the giant African snail.

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