Laboratory Observations of the Veronicellid Slug Biology Laevicaulis stuhlmanni aegypti Ali &amp; Robinson, A new Subspecies and Record in Egyptian Agro-system

Reham Ali

doi:10.21608/eajbsz.2017.13434

Abstract

The veronicellid slug Laevicaulis stuhlmanni aegypti Ali & Robinson (Family: Veronicellidae) is a new subspecies and record that had been discovered for the first timein garden in El Zamalek at Cairo governorate, Egypt.The main biological aspects of theveronicellid slug had been recorded i.e., incubation period, hatchability percentage, life cycle, oviposition, generation period as well as life span. These observations were recorded under laboratory conditions during slug’s activity season starting from March till early December. Biology of veronicellid slug had not adequate study of their life cycle and behavior, especially for new subspecies record in the Egyptian environment. Self-fertilization is the normal breeding system for laying eggs; with big number of egg clutches, that makes the slug is a dangerous invader pest with population for attacking any new environment in the future.

Highlights

First time finding the veronicellid slug Laevicaulis stuhlmanni aegypti Ali & Robinson as new subspecies was recorded in Egyptian environment, which is considered as a serious agro-horticultural pest and introduced
Laevicaulis stuhlmanni aegypti adult slugs were collected by hand during March and April 2016 under different types of ornamental plants from garden located in El Zamalek at Cairo governorate (30°03’27.4”N 31°13’28.1”E)
Veronicellidae group has big variation of slug species known as herbivorous molluscs, which are so voracious comparing to other terrestrial slugs such Limacus flavus in spite of the similar weight

Summary

Introduction

First time finding the veronicellid slug Laevicaulis stuhlmanni aegypti Ali & Robinson as new subspecies was recorded in Egyptian environment, which is considered as a serious agro-horticultural pest and introduced. Veronicellids are mainly tropical and subtropical terrestrial slugs (Order: Systellommatophora), they are known for attacking number of ornamental plants including flower beds, as a serious garden pest that causing big damage to seedlings and plants with significant agricultural, environmental, and garden impacts with significant losses to numerous crops (Raut, 1999; Robinson and Hollingsworth, 2005; Gomes et al, 2013) This family is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of America, southern Asia, Africa, Madagascar, and Indian Ocean Islands (Herbert and Kilburn, 2004) in addition to the Pacific and across the Fiji Islands. The biology of these family species is still insufficient (USDA, 2010) that needs further and more adequate studies; some studies have been conducted about the distribution and life histories of few economically important species, such as Laevicaulis alte (Nagabhushanam and Kulkarni, 1971a; 1971b; Cowie, 2000; Herbert and Kilburn, 2004; Brodie and Barker, 2012b; Ramakrishna et al, 2014) and Sarasinula plebeian (Brodie and Barker, 2012a) in different countries and regions

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Conclusion