2026/06/05 by Neha Kumari Gupta, Pranesh Paul, Suparna Mandal +1 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · #Mollusks and Parasites Studies #Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation #Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
paper · doi:10.1080/13235818.2026.2679354
Deroceras laeve is a recognised pest of agriculture and horticulture in Darjeeling Himalayas and other parts of India due to its unchecked feeding and high adaptability. To identify a biocontrol agent against D. laeve, this study aims to assess the efficiency of Bipalium sp. (land planaria) by observing predation under varying prey and predator sizes and habitats, temperature-dependent functional response, prey preferences and non-consumptive effect upon D. laeve. The land planaria consumed a higher number of small-sized (3 ± 0.24) D. laeve, followed by the medium-sized (2.1 ± 0.38) D. laeve individuals per day, than larger slugs. No substantial difference in consumption rate was observed between large- and small-sized predators, nor was there a difference due to habitat complexity. The type II functional response curve indicated lower handling time at 20 °C than at 15 °C. Moreover, Bipalium sp. exhibited no prey preference towards D. laeve and Tanychlamys sp. (a native land snail). As a non-consumptive effect of the predator, D. laeve exhibited lower leaf consumption rates in the presence of the predator and its cues than in the control group. Therefore, the results suggest that Bipalium sp. may contribute to the suppression of the pestiferous slug population through combined consumptive and non-consumptive effects.