Efficacy of Megaselia scalaris (Loew)‎ (Diptera : Phoridae)‎ against the common terrestrial snail species in northern Egypt

Abstract EN

Six of terrestrial snail species were exposed to Megaselia scalaris (Loew).

The mean number of live snails and the percentage of snail mortalities were calculated after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks.

The results illustrate that, there are significant differences in the percentage of snail mortalities between different snail species.

Also between different time intervals post exposure.Some of the exposed snails such as Eobania vermiculata, Theba pisana, Helicella vestalis and Eremina desertorum were almost parasatized, after 4 weeks.

On the other hand, other exposed snails such as Rumina decollata and Cochlicella acuta were totally unparasatized, where zero % mortality was recorded.

Results indicate that, the newly listed insect in the Egyptian fauna M.

scalaris (Loew) could be used in snail pests biocontrol programmes in Egypt.

While it will be safer for the predatory snail species.