Problems with the management of the golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata: An important exotic pest of rice in Asia

Abstract

The golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) is native to South America. It was introduced to farmers in the Philippines in the 1980s from Argentina via Taiwan, and to other countries in Asia, to increase farmers' income and enrich the protein in their diet, and also as an aquarium pet. Golden apple snail is expanding its distribution in Asia, threatening to invade Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and also Australia. The Global Invasive Species Programme lists golden apple snail as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species. It has brought about economic losses to aquatic crops in the Philippines that are estimated to be up to USD 1200 million per annum without taking into account the non-crop damage to human health and natural ecosystems. It is also an environmental pest since to control this mollusc, resource-poor farmers resort to a "shot-gun approach", using toxic and non-specific agrochemicals and thereby aggravating ecosystem pollution, risking their health, and causing loss of aquatic biodiversity. The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) focuses on (1) understanding the field ecology of the golden apple snail, and identifying "weak links" in its life cycle, and (2) using this information to manage the golden apple snail at the village level in ecologically sustainable, socially acceptable, and economically viable ways. This paper discusses how populations of this exotic pest species in transplanted irrigated lowland rice can be managed using locally available attractants during the vulnerable stage(s) of rice crop growth.