Possible Benefits of Egg Cannibalism in the Land Snail Arianta arbustorum (L.)

1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 679 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Baur
Keyword(s):  
Land Snail ◽  
Egg Cannibalism ◽  
Arianta Arbustorum

Effects of early feeding experience and age on the cannibalistic propensity of the land snail Arianta arbustorum

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (12) ◽  
pp. 3068-3070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Baur
Keyword(s):  
Land Snail ◽  
Early Feeding ◽  
Vegetable Food ◽  
Egg Cannibalism ◽  
Feeding Experience ◽  
Arianta Arbustorum ◽  
Genetically Determined

The influence of early feeding experience on egg cannibalism was examined in hatchlings of the land snail Arianta arbustorum. The propensity for cannibalism was not affected by cannibalistic or by vegetarian early feeding experience. It was, however, negatively correlated with the age of the snails. Freshly hatched snails with no prior feeding experience chose eggs exclusively, while 16-day-old snails preferred vegetable food. Furthermore, the cannibalistic propensity varied between offspring from different clutches. Restriction of the cannibalistic propensity to the hatchling stage, its nonmodifiability, and differences in its extent between clutches suggest that egg cannibalism in A. arbustorum is a genetically determined trait.

Can Cannibalistic Hatchlings of the Land Snail Arianta Arbustorum Distinguish Between Sib and Non-Sib Eggs?

Behaviour ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Baur
Keyword(s):  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
Egg Cannibalism ◽  
Arianta Arbustorum

AbstractIn the field hatchlings of the land snail Arianta arbustorum have been observed devouring eggs from sib as well as non-sib clutches. In the laboratory newly hatched A. arbustorum were tested for their ability to distinguish between eggs of different degrees of relatedness. In these experiments hatchlings did not discriminate between sib, other kin and non-kin eggs. Snails from three populations showed the same egg preferences, but they differed in their propensity for cannibalism. Despite the apparent lack of sib and kin recognition, egg cannibalism in A. arbustorum may be adaptive, even among siblings, because of the nutritional and energetic benefits.

scholarly journals Birch tar oil is an effective mollusc repellent: field and laboratory experiments using Arianta arbustorum (Gastropoda: Helicidae) and Arion lusitanicus (Gastropoda: Arionidae)

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. LINDQVIST ◽  
B. LINDQVIST ◽  
K. TIILIKKALA
Keyword(s):  
Plant Protection ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Plant Protection Product ◽  
Arion Lusitanicus ◽  
Northern Fennoscandia ◽  
Arianta Arbustorum ◽  
Tar Oil

Populations of two molluscs, the land snail Arianta arbustorum and the Iberian slug Arion lusitanicus, have increased substantially in many places in the northern Fennoscandia in recent years. This has resulted in considerable aesthetic and economic damage to plants in home gardens and commercial nurseries. Birch tar oil (BTO), is a new biological plant protection product, and was tested against these molluscs. In this study we examined whether 2 types of BTO, used either alone, mixed together, or mixed with Vaseline®, could be applied as 1) a biological plant protection product for the control of land snails by direct topical spray application, 2) as a repellent against snails when painted on a Perspex® fence, and 3) as a repellent against slugs when smeared on pots containing Brassica pekinensis seedlings. Both the fences and the pots with seedlings were placed in each field with a high population of the target organism. When applied as a spray on snails, BTO did not act as a toxic pesticide but rendered the snails inactive for a period of several months. The BTO barriers were effective in repelling both snails and slugs. However, the repellent effect of BTO alone against the molluscs was short-term. Repeated treatments were required to keep the slugs away from the plants and we found that the interval between treatments should not exceed two weeks. A collar fastened around the rim of the pots, combined with the BTO treatment, did not give any additional benefit in hindering slugs from invading the plants. Most noticeably, the BTO+Vaseline® mixture prevented the land snails from passing over the treated fences for up to several months. The results of these experiments provide evidence that BTO, especially when mixed with Vaseline®, serves as an excellent long-term repellent against molluscs.;

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