Snail preference of the malacophagous sarcophagid Parasarcophaga pharaonis (Rohdendorf) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae).
Azzam K. M., Tawfik M. F. S.
Author Affiliation: Plant Protection Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control 12 : 125-128
Abstract : A laboratory experiments were conducted to study the preference of Parasarcophaga [Sarcophaga] pharaonis larvae towards different terrestrial snail species living on their natural habitat and infesting various economic plants, i.e. orchard (Citrus spp., Vitis vinifera, Phoenix dactylifera and Mangifera indica); field crops (Trifolium alexandrinum, Zea mays, Vicia faba and Triticum vulgare [Triticum aestivum]); vegetables (Brassica oleracea, Solanum melongena, S. tuberosum and Lactuca sativa); ornamental plants (Strelitzia reginae, Tagetes erecta, Asparagus sprengeri [A. densiflorus], Chrysanthemum frutescens). The snail Helix aspersa was the most preferred species for all larval instars. The prey preference of larval stage could be arranged descendingly as follows: Helix aspersa, Eobania vermiculata, Eremina desertorum, Theba pisana, Monacha obstructa, Helicella vestalis, Rumina decollata and Cochlicella acuta.