Hi All,
Good stuff and quick too.

Responding to a couple of points.

First to Paul M.

<<If the predator has killed  the target pest species it will
starve soon afterwards by malnutrition.>

        Hello Henk,

        Is it likely that an introduced predatory species would completely
eradicate a prey species, and then become locally extinct itself?  Isn't it
more likely that a permanent cyclic population dynamic would result, where
the predator kills off most of the prey species, which causes the predator
population to decrease, which allows the remnant prey population to
increase, which causes the predator population to increase, etc., etc.??>

The starvation and or population dynamic scenarios are ideal or almost ideal situations for species / target specific biological control agents. Unfortunatly what appears to happen more often than not is that the introduced critter in question usually finds something else to munch on and then becomes a problem for other indiginous critters. Euglandina was introduced purposely in Moorea, French Polynesia (http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/noframe/pi180.html)and Hawaii (http://www.natureserve.org/publications/leastwanted/snail.html)in order to combat the African Tree Snail (Achatina fulica). Unfortunatly the Rosy Wolf Snail stated wiping out all sorts of native fuana.

Next to Henk,

<One of the first questions is whether you are 100% sure that you are dealing
with Euglandina rosea in that Central American country? Numerous species of
Euglandina are living in Central America.>

Good point, no I am not 100% sure of the species identification.

<However, to
interprete its occurrence at Caesarea and Apollonia as early trials of
biological control of other snails? I do not think so.>

Interesting, and I can buy that.

My original question was a test balloon for an idea and put up to have people take shots at.

Thanks

Bob

Robert J. Lichtenstein R.P.A.
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