2025/10/02 by Ngo van Dung, Phạm Hồng Hiển, Phung Quang Tung +6 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Mollusks and Parasites Studies
paper · doi:10.1080/13235818.2025.2565745
openalex publication_date 2025/10/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15
This study investigated the reproductive ecology of Acusta tourannensis (Souleyet, 1842), a major pest of dragon fruit (Selenicereus spp.) in Vietnam, under controlled and field conditions. Laboratory experiments revealed that diet and temperature are key drivers of reproduction. Reproduction was most successful at 25°C, with snails fed a mixed diet exhibiting higher fecundity and shorter incubation periods than those fed on dragon fruit alone. Although incubation time decreased with temperature, high hatching success across a wide thermal range highlighted the species’ resilience. Despite a short lifespan, its prolific reproductive output facilitates rapid population growth. Field surveys showed that greater population densities were consistently found in farmland soils, peaking during the transition from the dry to the rainy season, which provides favourable moisture and vegetation. Substantial damage to branches and fruits confirmed the pest's economic importance. These findings provide a robust foundation for developing integrated pest management strategies that account for dietary, thermal, soil, and seasonal dynamics to minimise the A. tourannensis impact on dragon fruit production.