Predation Potential of the Water Bugs Sphaerodema rusticum on the Sewage Snails Physa acuta
The sewage snail Physa acuta is a serious threat to certain economic plants and to the purification plant of sewage works by rendering the biofilters ineffective. Various attempts are being made to control it. The efficacy of the predacious water bugs Sphaerodema rusticum was judged experimentally,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
2002-06-01
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| Series: | Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762002000400015 |
| _version_ | 1797713332041416704 |
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| author | G Aditya SK Raut |
| author_facet | G Aditya SK Raut |
| author_sort | G Aditya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The sewage snail Physa acuta is a serious threat to certain economic plants and to the purification plant of sewage works by rendering the biofilters ineffective. Various attempts are being made to control it. The efficacy of the predacious water bugs Sphaerodema rusticum was judged experimentally, in the laboratory in the potential control of P. acuta. It is revealed that, when supplied separately, the first, second and third instar and the adult S. rusticum did not attack P. acuta belonging to 3.1-8 mm, 5.1-8 mm, 7.1-8 mm and <= 3 mm size classes respectively. In the remaining trials predation rate varied from zero to eight (average 2.3) individuals per predator per day. In experiments with P. acuta belonging to all the size classes supplied together, none, except the first instar S. rusticum, attacked the prey individuals belonging to the lowest (<= 3 mm) size class. The first and second instar S. rusticum, in both trials did not attack P. acuta larger than 4 mm and 5 mm in shell length respectively. The water bugs belonging to the third, fourth, fifth instar and adult stages though preyed upon P. acuta with 3.1-8 mm shell length. The average rate of predation by a single S. rusticum varied from 0.14-3.08 individuals per day depending upon the size of P. acuta and the stage of S. rusticum. A single S. rusticum, irrespective of instar and adult stages, destroyed on average 4.16 P. acuta daily irrespective of sizes. It is estimated that one S. rusticum could destroy 1,360 P. acuta in its life time. The results clearly indicate that the water bug S. rusticum may be used to control the snails P. acuta. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:34:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1bc4fe96bec1462e879bddde7a1a36d4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0074-0276 1678-8060 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:34:50Z |
| publishDate | 2002-06-01 |
| publisher | Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz |
| spelling | doaj.art-1bc4fe96bec1462e879bddde7a1a36d42023-09-02T21:33:18ZengFundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz0074-02761678-80602002-06-0197453153410.1590/S0074-02762002000400015Predation Potential of the Water Bugs Sphaerodema rusticum on the Sewage Snails Physa acutaG AdityaSK RautThe sewage snail Physa acuta is a serious threat to certain economic plants and to the purification plant of sewage works by rendering the biofilters ineffective. Various attempts are being made to control it. The efficacy of the predacious water bugs Sphaerodema rusticum was judged experimentally, in the laboratory in the potential control of P. acuta. It is revealed that, when supplied separately, the first, second and third instar and the adult S. rusticum did not attack P. acuta belonging to 3.1-8 mm, 5.1-8 mm, 7.1-8 mm and <= 3 mm size classes respectively. In the remaining trials predation rate varied from zero to eight (average 2.3) individuals per predator per day. In experiments with P. acuta belonging to all the size classes supplied together, none, except the first instar S. rusticum, attacked the prey individuals belonging to the lowest (<= 3 mm) size class. The first and second instar S. rusticum, in both trials did not attack P. acuta larger than 4 mm and 5 mm in shell length respectively. The water bugs belonging to the third, fourth, fifth instar and adult stages though preyed upon P. acuta with 3.1-8 mm shell length. The average rate of predation by a single S. rusticum varied from 0.14-3.08 individuals per day depending upon the size of P. acuta and the stage of S. rusticum. A single S. rusticum, irrespective of instar and adult stages, destroyed on average 4.16 P. acuta daily irrespective of sizes. It is estimated that one S. rusticum could destroy 1,360 P. acuta in its life time. The results clearly indicate that the water bug S. rusticum may be used to control the snails P. acuta.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762002000400015sewage drainssnailPhysa acutawater bugSphaerodema rusticumpredationIndia |
| spellingShingle | G Aditya SK Raut Predation Potential of the Water Bugs Sphaerodema rusticum on the Sewage Snails Physa acuta Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz sewage drains snail Physa acuta water bug Sphaerodema rusticum predation India |
| title | Predation Potential of the Water Bugs Sphaerodema rusticum on the Sewage Snails Physa acuta |
| title_full | Predation Potential of the Water Bugs Sphaerodema rusticum on the Sewage Snails Physa acuta |
| title_fullStr | Predation Potential of the Water Bugs Sphaerodema rusticum on the Sewage Snails Physa acuta |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predation Potential of the Water Bugs Sphaerodema rusticum on the Sewage Snails Physa acuta |
| title_short | Predation Potential of the Water Bugs Sphaerodema rusticum on the Sewage Snails Physa acuta |
| title_sort | predation potential of the water bugs sphaerodema rusticum on the sewage snails physa acuta |
| topic | sewage drains snail Physa acuta water bug Sphaerodema rusticum predation India |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762002000400015 |
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