Electrical Control of Pomacea canaliculata (L.) - Effect of AC Voltage -

Abstract

The possibility of electrical control of the Apple Snail, Pomacea canaliculata (L.) and/or electrical control of eating and mating were investigated using an AC voltage of 80-330 V at a pulse duration of 2-60 s. The longer AC voltage pulses did not kill the Apple Snails because they were in their electrically-insulated shell when the voltage was applied. However, the pulsed AC voltage was quite effective in controlling their activities. An index, D20, is proposed to quantity the effect of AC voltage application. D20 expresses the durability of irritation and is defined as the ratio between the minimum and maximum numbers of stationary Apple Snails for 20 min after voltage application. D20 increased in proportional to the applied voltage and the cumulative application of the same voltage. Saturation appeared when the applied voltage duration reached 10 s.