Cuban Brown Snail, Zachrysia Provisoria (Gastropoda): Damage Potential and Control
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Crop Protection 52 (2013) 57e63 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Crop Protection journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/cropro Cuban brown snail, Zachrysia provisoria (Gastropoda): Damage potential and control John L. Capinera* Entomology and Nematology Department, P.O. Box 110620, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620, USA article info abstract Article history: The snail Zachrysia provisoria (Pfeiffer) is poorly known in Florida, USA, where it predominately is viewed as a Received 15 December 2012 pest of ornamental plants. I evaluated its host plant relationships, foliage consumption potential, and sus- Received in revised form ceptibility to several molluscicides. Many of the potential hosts, especially common ornamental plants that 15 May 2013 are planted densely as ground cover and might be expected to provide a favorable environment for snails, are Accepted 20 May 2013 not suitable for growth of young snails. Older snails, though displaying some ability to feed and damage hosts unsuitable for growth of young snails, displayed similar patterns of acceptance and growth. Several weeds Keywords: were favorable for growth, suggesting that untended environments could lead to snail problems in adjacent Terrestrial snails Invasive organisms ornamental plantings. The effect of plant condition (age) on snail feeding preference was assessed by Damage potential measuring leaf consumption by snails presented simultaneously with young (green, located apically) and Molluscicides senescent (yellowing or yellow, located basally) leaves of a single plant species. From preferred host plants, Metaldehyde snails chose young leaf tissue, but from less preferred plants they consumed senescent tissue. Foliage Iron phosphate consumption potential was assessed using romaine lettuce at two constant temperatures, 24 and 32 C. Sodium iron EDTA Foliage consumption increased with age (wet weight) at both 24 and 32 C; however, the rate of con- Boric acid sumption was higher at the lower temperature. At 24 C, mean peak consumption was about 40 cm2 of leaf area or 12 g wet weight/day. At the less favorable high temperature of 32 C, mean peak consumption was reduced by about 50%, to a mean of only 20 cm2 or 6 g wet weight/day. Relative consumption rate (cm2 or g foliage/g snail) diminished with age (wet weight) of the snails. Several molluscicide-containing baits were assessed. Metaldehyde-based baits induced mortality most quickly, followed by iron-based baits. A boric acid-based bait was slowest, requiring 12 days for the induction of significant levels of mortality. All baits significantly suppressed feeding, however, sometimes even in the absence of mortality. Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction 1939; Auffenberg and Stange, 1993), damaging flower and orna- mental foliage plants. Some snails have become significant factors Zachrysia provisoria (Pfeiffer, 1858) (Family Pleurodontidae in interstate and international commerce, as they may cause [Camaenidae]) was originally described from Cuba, but now occurs economic or aesthetic damage when introduced into new areas. on many islands in the Caribbean region as well as Florida (USA), Thus, it is a quarantine problem. Zachrysia is of particular concern Guatemala, and Costa Rica (Robinson and Fields, 2004). Pilsbry because they can be numerous in regions of Florida where orna- (1928) provides some descriptive information on this species and mental plant production is an important industry, and will dig other members of the genus. Besides Pilsbry’s brief observations into the soil during the daylight hours, making detection difficult noting the occurrence of this species mostly in humid forests, there and inadvertent transport of the snails along with container-grown is little scientific literature beyond his brief taxonomic treatment, plants quite possible. Because it is a poorly known species, studies some international distribution records, and some rearing studies were conducted to assess damage potential and control. (Capinera, 2012). Z. provisoria was introduced deliberately into the Miami, Florida area in the early 1900s as a potential food source (Auffenberg and 2. Materials and methods Stange, 1993), but since then has become the major snail pest of landscape plants in southern areas of the Florida peninsula (Pilsbry, 2.1. Host plants and foliage consumption * Tel.: þ1 352 273 3905. Because the plant hosts suitable for growth of immature E-mail address: Capinera@ufl.edu. Z. provisoria are unknown, I assessed the suitability of several plants 0261-2194/$ e see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2013.05.014 58 J.L. Capinera / Crop Protection 52 (2013) 57e63 (12 cultivated plants, 3 native uncultivated plants, 9 weeds, and two young and apical) and a yellowing or yellow (senescent and basal) 5-plant mixtures) for young (about 50 mg wet weight) snail leaf from one of 4 plant species. Five young snails (about 0.25 g development and growth by providing them with potential natural each) cultured on romaine lettuce were confined in each of 20 diets. Young unfed snails (n ¼ 14 per diet, 1e2 d old) were confined replicate containers with both a young and a senescent leaf in 1 L individually in 250 ml covered plastic containers with one of the covered plastic containers for 24 h at 26 C to determine con- aforementioned diets. Thus, I used 364 snails for the 26 diet sumption. The foliage was acclimated to a saturated environment treatments. These young snails were used only for these suitability (tight container with moist paper towels) for 24 h before exposure studies, then destroyed. The snails were weighed weekly with a to the snails, and the foliage weighed before and after exposure to Mettler Toledo A104 analytical balance. Romaine lettuce, Lactuca the snails to assess consumption (preference) as determined by sativa var. longifolia (Asteraceae) was used as a standard (control) foliage wet weight loss. Plant foliage was presented on moist filter because these snails, as well as most terrestrial plant-feeding paper to keep the foliage fresh. The four plant species assessed were molluscs, accept it readily. About 1 g (wet weight) of foliage was Florida beggarweed, wild poinsettia, Spanish needles, and water provided to each snail, with plant material monitored every 2e3d primrose, Ludwigia octavalis (Onagraceae). All commonly have both and replaced as needed to ensure freshness. Also provided in each senescent (basal) and vigorously growing (apical) foliage present in container was about 30 g of moistened soil to maintain high hu- late summer when snails are actively feeding and growing. Relative midity in the containers and to serve as a source of dietary calcium. acceptance was analyzed with two-way ANOVA using plant species The snail culture was conducted in a room maintained at 26 C and and plant age as variables. Differences in foliage consumption 14 h photoperiod. Snail wet weight was measured weekly for 5 among species were assessed with the Bonferroni Multiple Com- weeks, although for some unacceptable diets, considerable mor- parison Test (GraphPad Prism, GraphPad Software, San Diego, Cal- tality (50%) had occurred before this time, so data tabulation was ifornia), and preference for young versus senescent tissue for each terminated. Mean wet weight (SE) was calculated and plotted to plant species with a paired t-test (GraphPad Prism). determine trends in wet weight gain on the various diets. Many of In a second, related preference study, I assessed relative pref- the snails in these studies died, but survivors were also destroyed erence of the snails for these plant species by presenting one young and not used in other host selection studies. leaf of all 4 plant species simultaneously (matched for similar size) Plants evaluated for suitability to support young snail growth, in to two snails (about 0.5 g each) in the manner described above for addition to romaine lettuce, included several ornamental plants: St. assessment of preference in relation to plant condition. Consump- Augustinegrass, Stenotaphrum secundatumcoleus (Poaceae); coleus, tion (wet weight loss) of each leaf was compared with one-way Solenostemon sp. (Lamiaceae); peace lily, Spathiphyllum sp. (Ara- ANOVA and the Bonferroni multiple comparison test. The number ceae); lubbersiana, Ctenanthe lubbersiana (Marantaceae); purple of replicate containers for this test was 15. queen, Tradescantia pallida (Commelinaceae); cutleaf philoden- Potential foliage consumption rates were determined in relation dron, Philodendron monstera (Araceae); tree philodendron, Philo- to temperature using romaine lettuce as a substrate. After being dendron bipinnatifidum (Araceae); Madagascar periwinkle cultured at 26 C, individual snails were cultured with lettuce in (commonly called ‘vinca’), Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae); 500 ml cups and acclimated to two temperatures (24 and 32 C) for English ivy, Hedera helix (Araliaceae); Boston fern, Nephrolepis 48 h, and then their individual consumption rates were determined exaltata (Lomariopsidaceae); and zinnia, Zinnia elegans (Aster- for two consecutive nights. These temperatures were chosen to aceae). Weeds evaluated were: common dayflower, Commelina represent the typical upper and lower temperatures that snails communis (Commelinaceae); Asiatic hawksbeard (oriental false might experience during summer months in southern Florida. The hawksbeard), Youngia japonica (Asteraceae); pink wood sorrel, daily foliage