Abstract
The apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck) is a pest which attacks newly transplanted rice seedlings, chinese lotus and other aquatic crops.
Experiments were carried out to develop methods of biological weed control using the snail. The results obtained are summarized as follows.
1. The snail fed on various lowland weeds. The snail with a shell 3cm high ate 3g of fresh weeds per day in July.
2. The snail could also eat water grass, Echinochloa oryzicola Vasing until the plants reached the 3-4 leaf age and become 15cm high.
3. Shallow flooding with a water depth of ca. 1cm or drainage management for 15 days after transplanting (until the E. oryzicola plants reached the 3 leaf age) was effective as a physical and cultural method of control to reduce the damage caused by the snails to rice plant.
