Life cycle and growth of the escargot (Helix aspersa Muller 1774) reared in Thailand
1985
Tanapan Pattamarnon
Preliminary studies of the life cycle, behavior and growth rate of the escargot (Helix aspersa Muller 1774), reared in Thailand, were carried out from July 1983 to October 1984. After hatching, the snails required approximately 5 months to reach sexual maturity characterized by copulation and oviposition. Similar copulatory behavior was observed in both the introduced parents and their offsprings. The prelude courtship usually begun at night or early in the morning, was followed by copulation and exchange of spermatophores between the two copulants. The overall reproductive process took 4 to 5 hours and oviposition occurred within 9-15 days later. The oviposited eggs were laid in a small hole dug by the spawning snail, 1-2 inches beneath the ground. The number in each clutch varied from 80 to 130 for the introduced snail, and 30 to 40 for their offsprings, respectively. The eggs were incubated in their nest for 12 days. The embryo hatched as a tiny juvenile snail. These juveniles required 14 days stay in the hole, as a nesting period, before emerging to the soil surface to start feeding. Snails in captivity grown at room temperature, showed a non-uniformed growth curve distinguished by two retardations during the 68th to 82th and 131th 152th days of observations. Longevity of H. aspersa reared in Thailand was quite short. A juvenile grew up to be a small-sized mother snail within 5 months, lay eggs, and died shortly afterward. Major enemies were 2 species of predatory ants (Solenopsis sp. and Oecophylla smaragdina), house rat (Mus sp.), and a snail mite (Riccardoella limacum)
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This bibliographic record has been provided by Thai National AGRIS Centre, Kasetsart University
