Demonstrated Control of Australorbis Glabratus by Marisa Cornuarietis under Field Conditions in Puerto Rico *

Effects of husbandry parameters on the life‐history traits of the apple snail, Marisa cornuarietis: effects of temperature, photoperiod, and population density

“…Members of M. cornuarietis have a widespread distribution in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, and its natural distribution has been expanded by introductions for parasite control. It has also been investigated as a potential weed control agent in both Puerto Rico and Florida (Ferguson & Palmer 1958; Ortiz‐Torres 1961; Radke et al 1961). Although the species seems to be highly adaptable to varying environmental conditions in the field, there are relatively few controlled laboratory studies examining how its life‐history traits respond to environmental changes, e.g., photoperiod, temperature, food quality and quantity, population density, etc.…”

Control of Aquatic Weeds by the Snail Marisa cornuarietis

“…Dense growths of an ornamental waterlily (Nymphaea ampla DC.) were essentially eradicated from five Puerto Rican ponds in about 1.5 years after 200 mature Marisa were introduced into each pond (10). These observations suggest that Marisa might be an effective biological agent for control of aquatic weeds as well as snail and insect vectors of diseases commonly associated with aquatic weeds and their habitats.…”

“…the eggs and young of A. glabratus (1,10). In a laboratory study (1), Marisa was routinely fed watercress (Nasturtium oflicinale R.…”

Introduction, distribution, spread, and impacts of exotic freshwater gastropods in Texas

“…In the same region Marisa cornuarietis consumed the egg sacks and immature stages of both species of Biomphalaria, greatly impacting their populations (Chernin et al, 1956;Ferguson & Palmer, 1958;Radke et al, 1961). Eradication can be so dramatic that these exotic snails were used as biological control agents for Biomphalaria, and thus their parasites, to control the spread of shistosomes in the Caribbean islands (reviewed in Pointer, 1999).…”