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Hi Again, Sept 21, 2010
Thanks to the speedy arrival of Grimm et al. (land snails & slugs; only
four days !) it is now possible, based on the fine photos & artwork in this
manual and assuming the legends are not scrambled, to correct the tentative
ID by Davis.
Cochlicopa lubrica (Fig. p.42) does not register at all with my
description of "...last whorl represented about 98% of the volume." (98%
being perhaps a slight exaggeration)
Based on the figures, this snail would almost certainly be a
Succineidae and being slightly strigose, perhaps Novisuccinea strigata.
So snail questions, given good circumstances, need not proceed at a
sluggish pace.
I should add that this snail is by no means restriced to Milkweed.
Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
----- Original Message -----
From: "David & Alison Webster" <dwebster@glinx.com>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Cc: "Andrew Hebda" <HEBDAAJ@gov.ns.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 9:06 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Monarchs Emerge
> Hi Steve & All, Aug 4, 2010
> With regard to snails on milkweed I paste the following---
> START OF PASTE\\\\\\
> Dear All, Aug 22, 2005
> While out for a short walk we happened to notice snails on Milkweed
> leaves; both under and upper sides with up to 10 snails per plant being
> not uncommon. I could see no evidence of feeding.
>
> These snails were <1 cm-long and the last whorl represented about
> 98% of the volume.
> END OF PASTE\\\\\\\\\\
>
> These were tentatively identified by Derek Davis (Sept 5 e-mail) as
> Cochlicopa lubrica; firm ID pending receipt of sample. So I collected some
> on Sept 9, 2005 (S40) and left a sample at the museum Aug 16, 2006. But
> have not heard back.
>
> Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Shaw" <srshaw@dal.ca>
> To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 3:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Monarchs Emerge
>
>
>> Hi Larry,
>> Related to this, we were out u-picking high bush blueberries in the
>> valley (up near you, Cambridge) ~3 days ago, at the end of which I
>> checked out the long 'hedge' side of the farmer's field, looking for
>> insects. Along this entire waste stretch there were just two isolated
>> smallish milkweed plants growing together (no pods) one of which had
>> two Monarch caterpillars on it, each about 3 cm long. Not sure how big
>> they get. On the way back, about 1 km away on the same side road, was
>> an apparently unused grassy field the edge of which was being invaded
>> by a large stand (~300) of more mature-looking milkweed plants, many
>> with pods, some of which had burst. We spent about 10 minutes scouting
>> this patch but saw no caterpillars or signs of leaf-eating at all.
>> Perhaps the Monarch adults only lay eggs on youngish, unpodded milkweed
>> plants which perhaps form a better food source? Or perhaps just pot
>> luck in finding any caterpillars at all, from what you say?
>>
>> The only thing we did see on this patch of milkweed plants quite
>> commonly were snails ~1cm long, immobile on the leaves, on either
>> surface. This would have been about 6 PM and it looked as if they
>> were living there on the leaves in the daytime and so presumably were
>> eating them. Does anyone know if there is a snail species that is
>> able to feed on this plant and whether it uses the alkaloids for
>> defence, or can simply withstand them, or metabolize them into
>> something harmless? These were small pale brown snails -- they showed
>> no warning colours that might advertize the use of such toxins by the
>> snail to potential predators.
>> Steve
>> (Halifax)
>>
>> On 4-Aug-10, at 11:14 AM, Larry Bogan wrote:
>>
>>> We have two new Monarchs out of their chrysalises this week.
>>>
>>> We have an additional five other caterpillars that may become
>>> Monarches plus three pupae. Our search of the Common Milkweed in our
>>> field revealed very few caterpillars or eggs. This year we have a huge
>>> population of spiders, lady-bird beetles, ants, and earwigs in the
>>> milkweed that I think had been predating the eggs etc.
>>>
>>> Because of this we have been protecting the eggs, and feeding the
>>> resultant caterpillars until they pupate.
>>>
>>> We have had, at most, three breeding Monarchs at any one time but have
>>> seen them mating at least twice. Since the milkweed is a noctious weed
>>> we have to control its spread. The milkweed is producing seed pods at
>>> the moment and we need to stop seed from spreading so have had to mow
>>> the field, keeping only small patches for food.
>>> Has anyone else seen Monarch emerging?
>>>
>>> Larry Bogan
>>> Cambridge, Kings Co.
>>>
>>>
>
>
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