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1.
Golden Apple Snails – Pomacea canaliculata:
Management Practices for control
The Golden Apple Snails (GAS) are widespread in rivers and
ponds around the country where they feed preferably on corms
of taro (Arouille Violette) and roots of watercress plants.
Aggressive feeding on taro plants limits development of new
shoots whilst presence of egg clusters affects marketability
of water cress.
Studies conducted by the AREU during period 2006-2008
revealed that infestation of GAS is at its lowest level
during the dry season when the snails hibernate either under
rocks or dried heaps of algae bordering rivers and streams.
At the onset of rainy season, they come out in masses and
infestation builds up in rivers as normal flow resumes.
Relatively high infestation and snail population density of
40/m2 were observed at early summer in November
and December.
GAS is considered to be the most invasive alien species ever
encountered during the past two decades.
The following management practices are recommended to
control infestation and attack of GAS on crops:
a)
Hand picking and destruction in case of small population
b)
Use of traps (e.g wasted nylon mesh bags) containing fleshy
leaves like those of castor oil, cabbage or papaya as bait
to attract the snails. The traps are removed and replaced at
weekly interval in case of high infestation.
c)
Multiple posts of wooden pegs at around one
metre
above water mark as laying nests to collect egg masses.
For
more information contact:
bdu@areu.mu
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