Study the prey preference of some aquatic insects for different snails under the laboratory conditions

Abstract

The study of five aquatic insects (predators), adults of two hemipterous species, Limnogeton fieberi Mayr, Sphaerodema urinator Duf., and nymphs of three Odonatous species, Anax imperator Leach, Crocothemis erythraea Brulle and Ischnura pumilio Charp. on four species of snails (preys) exist in its natural habitat at Qena, Bulinus truncates Audouin, Biomphalaria alexandrina Ehrenb, Cleopatra bulimoides Olivier and Melanoides tuberculata Muller. in non choice experiment under laboratory conditions, the result indicated that the first preference for attack to all predators was directed towards B. truncates. And the last preference was B. alexandrina. Except, L. fieberi, the last preference was C. bulimoides.