Document: AHM-3-51-3
Ecological studies on Monacha cantiana ( Montagu ) snails at Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt.
EL-KHODARY, A.S.*, R.R.HELAL, F.A.SHARSHIR and W.A.SHAHAWY
University of Tantta, Kafr El-Sheikh 33510 Egypt 1
Abstract:
The study was conducted for three successive years (1995-1997) at Kafr El-Sheikh and Biala locations Egypt. The aim of this study was to survey the land snails attacking Five crops at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt. Population dynamics for the most dominant snail, Monacha cantiana (Montagu) on navel orange, lemon, guava, lettuce and Egyptian clover was studied. The sampling process took place in fruit crops, taking ten random trees of each crop as well as the surrounded soil. As for lettuce and Egyptian clover, random counts were taken from ten plots (1m2/each). The survey was undertaken on five host plant species including fruit trees; Cietrus sinensis Citrus lemon, and Psidium guajava, while the vegetable crop was Lactuca sativa, and the field crop was Trifolium alexandrinum. A wooden screen cage (1 by 1 by 1 m) containing 24 clay pots was held at the experimental farm to test the relative preference of M. cantiana to eight host plants. Results indicated, M. cantiana was the most dominant snail species on the tested crops while Eobania vermiculata and Cochlicella acuta were low in number. The highest density was recorded in (1996) on fruit trees during June; (220.2 & 295.0 snails/tree) on naval orange, (201.9 & 286.2 snails/tree) on lemon and (201.0 & 221.5 snails/tree) on guajava. Snail populations were greatly reduced on lettuce and clover during December and January (1996,1997). M. cantiana preferred the Egyptian clover (18.25 snails/pot) followed by navel orange (13.8 snails/pot), cauliflower came third (3.25 snails/pot) while potato (1.40 snails/pot), was the least. It could be concluded that M. cantiana was the most dominant snail species and the fruit trees were the most susceptible in this field survey.
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AGROECOLOGY