Life cycle and host preference study of giant African snail (Achatina fulica) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Life cycle and host preference study of giant African snails (Achatina fulica) under laboratory conditions was conducted in Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India during 2023-24.The egg clutches of giant African snail contained an average of 180 eggs/clutch and incubation period was 6-15 days. It was passed through four juvenile stages viz., one, two, three and four whorl stage based on number of (ring) whorls development. Identification marks of the adult stage was recognized by development of 5-7 whorls on shell. In choice and non-choice test Achatina fulica highly preferred host plants was spinach, marigold, mulberry, papaya and cabbage leaves under laboratory conditions.