تسجيل جديد لقوقع التفاح الذهبي Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck في العراق

Abstract EN

The golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata (Ampullariidas: Caenogastropoda: Gastropoda) was recorded for the first time in Iraq in the Baghdad region.

It was found in small rivers of Salman Bak orchard, drainage and water canals of the College of Agriculture fields, cement-lined canals in Zawraa park, feeding on vegetation of aquatic and semi aquatic plants.

The snail was reared in the laboratory on water hyacinth plants Eiehhorrnia crassipes.

The snail fed on leaves, new branches and plant stalks submerged in water which caused plant weakness and then death.

It was found that the golden apple snail feed and mate at night.

It disappeared during the day time under plant leaves and its activity decreased during the winter season.

Mating occurred during spring and on vegetation submerged under water.

Feeding and activity peak occurred during the spring season in March.

Females laid eggs after mating during April and May at night in clusters on shoots and leaves above the water surface, where the laid pinkish egg cluster was attached to the plant by a sticky substance.

The number of eggs in the clusters were 328- 412/female with an average of 377 eggs.

The incubation period reached 13 days.

The golden apple snail is considered a polyphagous serious pest to the rice crop in Iraq, if it widely spread in production areas.