Population fluctuation and food preference of African snail by horticulture crops

Aldomário Santo Negrisoli Junior,Lindinalva Dos Santos,Maciel Bispo Dos Santos,Carla Ruth De Carvalho Barbosa-Negrisoli

doi:10.1590/1808-1657000402017

Aldomário Santo Negrisoli Junior, Lindinalva Dos Santos + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1808-1657000402017

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: The African snail Achatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822), originally from Africa, was introduced in Brazil and since then became an important pest, because of its resistance to abiotic conditions, hermaphroditism, polyphagia and absence of natural enemies. Considered as one of the 100 worst pests in the world, with the record of establishment in almost all Brazilian states, it causes sanitary, ecological and economic losses. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine the population dynamics and food preference of the giant snail in three areas of lettuce, located in Alagoas, Brazil. There was no statistical difference between food preference tests with and without choice among the varieties offered. To the fluctuation of the population of A. fulica, the Pearson correlation coefficients were negative only for temperature, and there was no correlation with precipitation and relative humidity.

Highlights

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., Cichorieae) is the most consumed vegetable in Brazil and on the world
Being present in the domestic market and with economic importance in Brazil, it accounts for 11% of production, with 4,908,772 tons
Lettuce is normally produced in green belts, near to consumer centers (SANTOS et al, 2001), as the city of Arapiraca (Alagoas state, Brazil), that contributes to the improvement and expansion of public policy for horticulture

Summary

Introduction

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., Cichorieae) is the most consumed vegetable in Brazil and on the world. Lettuce is normally produced in green belts, near to consumer centers (SANTOS et al, 2001), as the city of Arapiraca (Alagoas state, Brazil), that contributes to the improvement and expansion of public policy for horticulture. As well as arthropods, microorganisms and other unwanted agents, can adversely affect physical and organoleptic quality of vegetables. In this sense, the giant African snail Achatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822) (Pulmonata: Achatinidae), introduced in Brazil in 1988 (TELES; FONTES, 2002), has caused invasions and it is present in all Brazilian states (OLIVEIRA et al, 2012)

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