Suitability of selected ornamental plants for growth and survival of Lissachatina fulica (Gastropoda: Achatinidae)
Keywords:
giant African land snail, herbivory, snail diets, snail development,Abstract
Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822) (Gastropoda: Achatinidae), also known as the giant African land snail, is a plant pest throughout much of the world, including southern Florida, where an established population of this snail was discovered in 2011. Apart from reports that it is polyphagous, food preferences and suitability are not well known. The suitability of 21 ornamental plants commonly grown in Miami, Florida, was tested using snail growth (snail shell height and snail mass) and survival. After hatching, 50 snails were reared for 70 d on each of 24 dietary treatments (21 natural diets and 3 control diets). French marigold (Tagetes patula [Asteraceae]) was the ornamental plant diet that produced the largest snails (24 mm in shell height), producing snails equivalent in size to 2 of the control diets: romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa [Asteraceae]) and synthetic insect diet (gypsy moth). Plants allowing intermediate growth (> 10 mm) were cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus [Asteraceae]), salvia (Salvia splendens [Lamiaceae]), petra croton (Codiaeum variegatum [Euphorbiaceae]), zinnia (Zinnia elegans [Asteraceae]), Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens [Scrophulariaceae]), beach sunflower (Helianthus debilis [Asteraceae]), lantana (Lantana camara [Verbenaceae]), kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana [Crassulaceae]), and butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa [Apocynaceae]). There was a strong positive correlation between survival and plant suitability, as judged by shell height (r = 0.89). However, some plants tested, such as purslane (Portulaca oleracea [Portulacaceae]), sunflower (Helianthus annuus [Asteraceae]), dusty miller (Centaurea cineraria [Asteraceae]), and oyster plant (Tradescantia spathacea [Commelinaceae]) only provided minimal growth (< 10 mm) but may be able to sustain snails until they can find better quality food. Overall, annual plants tended to be more suitable than perennial plants for snail growth and survival (P < 0.01). This information can be used to identify which ornamental plants support snail growth and survival, where snails can likely be found on infested properties, and which plants might be at greatest risk for feeding damage.
Resumen
Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822) (Gastropoda: Achatinidae), también conocido como el caracol gigante africano terrestre, es una plaga de las plantas para sostenebilidad por un gran parte del mundo, incluyendo el sur de la Florida, donde se descubrió una población establecida de este caracol en el 2011. Aparte de las informadas en que este caracol es polífaga, su preferencia y La capacidad de las alimentarias no son bien conocidas. El adecuado de 21 plantas ornamentales comúnmente cultivadas en Miami, Florida, fue probada para medir el crecimiento del caracol (altura de concha del caracol y masa del caracol) y su sobrevivencia. Después de la eclosión, se criaron 50 caracoles durante 70 dias sobre cada uno de los 24 tratamientos dietéticos (21 dietas naturales y 3 dietas de control). La caléndola frances (Tagetes patula [Asteraceae]) fue la planta ornamental que produjo los caracoles más grandes (24 mm de altura de concha), produciendo caracoles de tamaño equivalente a 2 de las dietas de control: lechuga romana (Lactuca sativa [Asteraceae]) y la dieta sintética de insecto (polilla gitana). Las plantas que permiten un crecimiento intermedio (> 10 mm) fueron: cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus [Asteraceae]), salvia (Salvia splendens [Lamiaceae]), petra croton (Codiaeum variegatum [Euphorbiaceae]), zinnia (Zinnia elegans [Asteraceae]), cenizo Leucophyllum frutescens [Scrophulariaceae]), girasol de playa (Helianthus debilis [Asteraceae]), lantana (Lantana camara [Verbenaceae]), kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana [Crassulaceae]) y la maleza mariposa (Asclepias tuberosa [Apocynaceae]). Hubo una fuerte correlación positiva entre la sobrevivencia y la sostenebilidad de las plantas, según la altura de la concha (r = 0,89). Sin embargo, algunas plantas probadas, como el perejol (Portulaca oleracea [Portulacaceae]), el girasol (Helianthus annuus [Asteraceae]), centaurea (Centaureacineraria [Asteraceae]) y la planta ostra (Tradescantia spathacea [Commelinaceae] sólo proporcionaron un crecimiento mínimo (<10 mm) pero puede ser capaz de sostener los caracoles hasta que puedan encontrar alimentos de mejor calidad. En general, las plantas anuales tienden a ser más adecuadas que las plantas perennes para el crecimiento y la sobrevivencia del caracol (P <0,01). Esta información puede usarse para identificar qué plantas ornamentales apoyan el crecimiento y la sobrevivencia del caracol, donde los caracoles pueden encontrarse probablemente en propiedades infestadas y qué plantas podrían estar en mayor riesgo de dañar.
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