Field Observation on Biology and Ecology of Terrestrial Snails Infesting Field and Vegetable Crops at Gharbia Governorate

Abo-Zaid, Asmaa, B.; El- Hawary, I. S.; Mahrous, M. E.; El-Sheikh, M. F.

doi:10.21608/eajbsz.2021.196691

Field Observation on Biology and Ecology of Terrestrial Snails Infesting Field and Vegetable Crops at Gharbia Governorate

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Plant Protection Department (Agriculture Zoology), Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University

² Plant Protection Department (Economic Entomology), Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University

³ Plant Protection Department (Agriculture Zoology), Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazic University

10.21608/eajbsz.2021.196691

Abstract

Results of a survey carried out on land mollusks infesting field and vegetable crops in Gharbia Governorate during the period from February to April 2017 and 2018 revealed the occurrence of two land snail species. These species were the glassy clover snail, Monacha cartusiana (Muller), family: Hygromiidae and the amber snail, Succinea putris Linnaeus, family: Succineidae. The identified species varied in their incidence and level of infestation according to locality and host plant. M. cartusiana infested all inspected fields of Egyptian clover, wheat, Cabbage and lettuce in the nine surveyed localities (villages) with low, moderate and high levels of infestation. While, broad bean and potato were populated with the species in one and two localities, respectively with low infestation. On the other hand, S. putris was detected on Egyptian clover and wheat with low or moderate numbers.
The seasonal population behavior of the predominant species, M. cartusiana was monitored on Egyptian clover and wheat during two successive seasons (2016/2017) and (2017/2018). It was found that population density increased during the spring months as compared to low or moderate values during the autumn and winter months. The breeding season of M. cartusiana as recognized by the presence of egg clutches in the field lasted 3.5 months from mid-November to the beginning of March. The general mean of clutches laid by M. cartusiana was 1.58 clutches per 0.25m². On the other hand, the general mean clutch size was 19.8 eggs/clutch with a range of 11 to 24 eggs per clutch.

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