Studies on life cycle of giant African snails Achatina fulica under laboratory condition at Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Studies on life cycle of Giant African snails Achatina fulica under laboratory condition at Raipur, Chhattisgarh was conducted in the Bio-control laboratory, Department of Entomology, IGKV, Raipur, Chhattisgarh during 2019-20. Studies on the life cycle details of the giant African snail, A. fulica depicted that egg clutches contained an average of 150 eggs/clutches and the mean size of the eggs was 4.66 mm in length and 2.50 mm in width. The incubation period was of 7-8 days. The eggs were laid in depth of 6 to 8 cm below soil and in plastic tub under laboratory conditions. The freshly laid eggs were yellow and before hatching it turned lighter in color. The average size of the newly hatched snails (hatchlings) was 4.92 mm in length and 3.81 mm in width. The mortality rate was 2 to 3% in sample of 30 snails in 24 hrs under laboratory conditions. There were three juvenile stages viz. J1, J2 and J3. Total development from egg to adult stage was of 150-160 days, and the adult longevity of 2-3 years.