Golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck): An important quarantine rice pest to watch

What you should know about the golden apple snail?

• Native of South America

• Not present in India, but must be cautious

• Introduced as protein supplement for animal and human diets, but now has no commercial value

• Currently a major pest in rice production

• Accidentally and or deliberately introduced into many Asian countries

Spreading of Pomacea canaliculata in Asia

How to know if the golden apple snail is present?

• Egg cluster has 200-300 pinkish-red eggs, and always laid above water surface. While,native apple snails (Pila spp.) lays white egg clusters

• Shell is round, thin, and dark-brown to golden brown. Thin operculum (lid) compared with Pila spp.

• Soft body tissue are creamy white to golden brown

• Many missing rice plants in water-logged areas

Eggs clutches (left), and depositing eggs (right)

Rice field with missing plants

How can you prevent the golden apple snail invasion into India?

• Impose strict quarantine inspections in all ports of entry (sea/air/road) to India. Regular surveillance for egg clusters/young snails on fresh plant materials and water- logged areas

• Alert farmers by television, radio broadcast, and trainings

If you come across this snail immediately contact:
Dr. B.N. Singh, Director, Central Rice Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Cuttack, Orissa, 753 006, India.
Email: directorcrri@satyam.net.in

Prepared with the technical advice from:
Drs. T. Wada, Y. Yusa, and R. C. Joshi
Kyushu-Okinawa National Agricultural Research Center, Suya, 2124, Nishigoshi, Kumamoto 861-1192, Japan
E-mail: twada@ss.knaes.affrc.go.jp, yusa@ss.knaes.affrc.go.jp, rcjoshi@ss.knaes.affrc.go.jp, rcjoshi@philrice.gov.ph

Printable version of this poster:
Pest alert poster (Adobe PDF format)

http://www.applesnail.net