Preference and Feeding Behavior of Apple Snail, (Pomacea canaliculata), for Fruits and Vegetables.

Abstract

To pursue the possibility of controlling apple snail damage on rice seedlings, the preferences and feeding behavior of the apple snail, under the use of fruits and vegetables as attractants in rice fields, were investigated. The apple snails showed higher preferences for specific fruits and vegetables, such as melons, watermelons, lettuce, eggplants, and tomatoes than for rice seedlings. Many more apple snails were observed adhering to and feeding on those fruits and vegetables than on rice seedlings when the seedlings, fruits and vegetables were simultaneously placed in one container. Most apple snails found their preferred food directly, or they moved to it after leaving unpreferred food within six hours. Moreover, the apple snails stayed on melons and eggplants for clearly a longer time period than on rice seedlings. Therefore it is suggested that vegetables in rice fields would attract the apple snails and may contribute to reduce apple snail damage on rice seedlings.