Foreword

The golden apple snail, popularly known as "golden kuhol'' [Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck], is
one of the major pest problems in rice production. In 1989, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations estimated that yield tosses owing to this pest ranged from 1%
to 40% of the planted area in the Philippines, resulting in huge production loss.

To control this pest, many farmers resort to the massive use of synthetic molluscicides that are
expensive and broad spectrum, affecting non-target organisms including human beings.

This primer was prepared to present additional alternatives and information on golden apple snail
management. It contains many new information to reduce the misuse of molluscicides. Discussed
here are details of the biology of golden apple snail, including several management options that
farmers could use to manage this pest in their farms.

A new recipe for golden apple snail is now available. The product is a chicharon (cracker) that is
devoid of water, has no offensive odor, with longer shelf-life, and can be readily used as an
ingredient in other recipes.

We hope that this primer wilt help our agricultural technicians, extension workers, and farmers
better understand the nature, spread, and management options for golden apple snail. 

Introduction

The golden apple snail, popularly known as "golden kuhol" [Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck],
was introduced into the Philippines between 1982 and 1984. It came from South America (Brazil
and Argentina) via Taiwan. Its high nutritive value as food for human beings and farm animals
generated interest among both public and private sectors to propagate the production of this
organism. However, a few years after its introduction, the golden apple snail became a major
pest of rice.

Of the 3 million (M) hectares of rice lands in the Philippines, 1.2-1.6M hectares are infested with
golden apple snail. In 1990, P212M was spent to control this pest. The first account that it had
become a major pest was recorded in 1986 when about 300 hectares of irrigated rice farms in
Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) were heavily damaged. Since then, rice area infested with this pest
has been increasing until it became a national menace.

Characteristics of adult golden apple snails

The golden apple snail lives for 2-6 years with high fertility.

Shell is tight brown; flesh is creamy white to golden pinkish or orange.

Size depends on the availability of food.

Most destructive stage is when the length of the shell is from 10 mm (about the size of a corn
seed) to 40 mm (about the size of a pingpong ball).*

Female golden apple snail operculum (a1) is concave white it is convex in male (a2).

The shell of the female adult snail (b1) curves inward; the male shell (b2) curves outward.*

Based on the study conducted by MS Dela Cruz, RC Joshi, and AR Martin.

Mode and signs of damage

 Newly-transplanted rice seedlings up to 15 days after transplanting are vulnerable to

golden apple snail damage; from 4 days to 30 days after sowing for direct-seeded rice.

 Golden apple snails devour the base of young seedlings. They can even consume the
young plants in a whole paddy overnight.

 Missing hills

 Floating cut leaves on the water surface.

Life cycle

Eggs

 Eggs are [aid at

night on any
vegetation,
levees, and
objects (e.g.
twigs, stakes,
stones, etc.)
above the water
surface.

 Egg masses are

bright pinkish-
red and turn
light pink when about to hatch.

 Eggs hatch in 7-14 days.

Hatchlings and adults

 Hatchlings grow and mature fast. They are voracious feeders.

 Adults mate for 3-4 hours anytime of the day among crowded plants where there is
continuous water supply throughout the year.

 Golden apple snails reproduce rapidly. They can lay 1000-1200 eggs in a month. Thus,
egg destruction is a very effective control strategy.

Where they live

 Ponds, swamps, irrigated fields, canals and water-togged areas.

 They bury themselves in moist soil during the dry season. They can aestivate for 6
months, then become active again when the soil is flooded.

 They can survive harsh environmental conditions such as pollutants in the water or low
oxygen levels.
Feeding habits and host range

 Golden apple snails feed on a wide range of plants such as algae, azolla, duck weed,
water hyacinth, rice seedlings, and other succulent leafy plants.

 They prefer young plant parts that are soft because it feeds by scraping plant surface with
its rough tongue.

 They also feed on any decomposing organic matter.

Naturally occurring biological control agents

 Red ants feed on the eggs.

 Ducks eat the flesh and young snails.

 Human beings eat the flesh when it is property cooked.

 Field rats bite on the shell and eat

the flesh.

Management options

During land preparation

 Before the final harrowing,

handpick golden apple snails from
rice paddies in the morning and
afternoon when they are most active and easy to find.

 Use plants that contain toxic substances against golden apple snails. Examples are gugo
(bark) [Entada phaseikaudes K Meer], tubangkamisa (leaves), sambong (leaves) [Blumea
balsamifera], tuba-tuba (leaves), gabihan (leaves) [Monochoria vaginalis], tobacco
(leaves) [Nicotiana tabacum L], calamansi (leaves) [Citrus microcarpa Bunge], tubli
(roots), makabuhay (leaves) [Tinospora rumphii Boerl], and red pepper (fruit).

 
 Other reported plants include starflower (leaves) [Calatropis giganta], neem tree (leaves)
[Azadirachta indica], and asyang [Mikania cordata] contain substances that can kill
golden apple snails. These are highly recommended before transplanting rice. Simply
construct small canals to confine the golden apple snalts and right there place the leaves
of the said plants.

 Use attractants such as leaves of gabi [Colocasia esculenta], banana [Musa paradisiaca
L.], papaya [Carica papaya L.], trumpet flower, and old newspapers for easy collection of
golden apple snails.

 During the last harrowing, construct deep strips (at Least 25 cm wide and 5 cm deep) in
the paddies by pulling a sack containing a heavy object. Provide 10- 15 m distance
between strips. Likewise, construct small canals (25 cm wide and 5 cm deep) along the
edges of rice paddies.

Small canals, where the golden apple snails will seek refuge if water
level is critical, make collection easier.
  Place a wire or woven bamboo screen on the main irrigation water inlet and outlet to
prevent the entry of hatchlings and adults. This also facilitates collection of trapped
golden apple snails.

Screens on the water inlet reduce entry of golden

snails to the paddy.

During transplanting

 Follow the standard seeding rate and distance so that the plants will have sturdy stems.

 If golden apple snail is a big problem, transplant 25-30-day-old seedlings of early-

maturing varieties. In the rice areas of the Cordillera highlands, use 30-35-day-old
seedlings of late-maturing varieties.

 Put bamboo stakes on water-logged areas in the paddies or near canals to attract adults
for egg laying. This makes collection and crushing of the egg masses easy.

 Maintain shatlow paddy water level (2-3 cm shallow) starting 3 days after transplanting.

 Drain the field occasionally to limit snail mobility and feeding activity.
 Draining the field occasionally will limit snail
mobility and feeding activity.

 Collect, cook, then eat the golden apple snails, or crush and feed them to ducks and pigs.
Collection is easier by using attractants such as leaves of gabi, papaya, and trumpet
flower.

 Use varieties that are high-tittering

and least preferred by the golden
apple snails such as PSB Rc36,
Rc38, Rc40, and Rc68.

After harvesting
Handpicking is recommended for large adult
 Herd ducks in rice paddies golden snails as these are not fed upon by ducks.
immediately after harvest up to the
last harrowing for the succeeding
crop. Herd them again 30-35 days after transplanting (DAT) early-maturing varieties and
40-45 DAT late-maturing varieties.

Integrated management scheme based on rice growth stages

Pre- Post
Crop establishment
establishment production
Land Preparation Vegetative Reproductive Maturity After harvesting
A B and C D E
 
A = Duck pasturing, handpicking, constructing canalets, use of plant attractants and destruction
of egg masses
B = Handpicking, duck pasturing, screen trapping, staking, and destruction of egg masses
C = Water management, handpicking, use of plant attractants, and destruction of egg masses
D = Sustain handpicking and destruction of adults and eggs
E = Duck pasturing, dry Land preparation

New information

A study conducted by researchers MS Dela Cruz, RC Joshi, and AR Martin from 1999 to 2000 at
PhilRice Maligaya found the following:

 Varieties that are least preferred by the golden apple snails are PSB Rc36, Rc38, Rc40,
and Rc68.

 Basal application of complete fertilizer and urea incorporated with the soil at
recommended rate during the last harrowing reduced golden apple snail population up to
54%.

 Commercial molluscicides (niclosamide and metaldehyde) were effective against golden

apple snails that are directly hit. Their efficacy tasted 2-3 days. Molluscicides may no
longer kill golden apple snails that will emerge to the soil surface after aestivating and
those that would reenter the treated fields. Niclosamide 250EC at half the label
recommendation (0.5 li/ha) killed about 80% of the golden apple snails that were sprayed
on. Nictosamide kills more native snails than metaldehyde formulations.

 The Chicharon (cracker) golden apple snail recipe* was improved.

Ingredients

1 kg of golden apple snail flesh

1 cup vegetable cooking oil
1/2 cup cornstarch or flour
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tbsp vinegar
3 cloves garlic
1-2 red chili
1/2 tsp alum (tawas)
 1 egg

Procedure:

1 . Gather 4-6 kg adult golden apple snail, from which some 1 kg flesh wilt be extracted.
2. Soak the golden apple snail with shell in tap water for 24 hours to remove undigested
food. Those that float are dead. Remove them.
3. Bolt the golden apple snail in a big kettle for 20-30 minutes.
4. Extract then clean the flesh of golden apple snail. Rinse the flesh with alum (tawas) to
remove the unpleasant odor.
5. Mix all spices with the golden apple snail. Marinate for 24 hours.
6. Sun-dry the marinated golden apple snail for 2-3 days, or place in oven at 40°C for 48
hours.
7. Air-dry the prepared golden apple snail for 3 days.
8. Deep-fry in vegetable oil for 2 minutes. Optional: Roll the flesh of the golden apple
snail in batter (cornstarch or flour with egg mixture) before final cooking.
9. For final cooking, deep-fry again for 5 minutes or until it is crispy. Let cool before
serving.

*Based on the "Kibit" recipe of Ms. Corazon M. Pasion, 124 St., Baler, Aurora; modified
by Mario S. Dela Cruz and Ravindra C. Joshi, Crop Protection Division, PhilRice.
Source: SEAFDEC Asian Agriculture, Vol. 22 No. 4, July-August 2000, page 12.

Nutritive value of golden apple snail

Nutritive value of golden apple snail flesh per 100g

- Food energy 83 calories

- Protein 12.2 g
- Fat 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates 6.6 g
- Ash 3.2 g
- Phosphorus 61 mg
- Sodium 40 mg
- Potassium 17 mg
- Riboflavin 12 mg
- Niacin 1.8 mg
- Other food values: Vit. C, zinc, copper, manganese, and iodine

List of Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority-registered molluscicides as of 31 March 2000

Formulatio Concen Label Toxicity
Active Product
n - Recom- Category Company
Ingredient Name
type tration bination *
Agchem
Metabait 2-4 kg/ha
P Metaldehyde 60 g/kg 4 Mftg.
6% Pellets 4-8 kg/ha
Corp.
16-20 tbps
F Metaldehyde Meta Flo 300 g/L 2
/16L water
10
Porsnail
WP Metaldehyde 750 g/kg tbsp/16L
74 WP
water
Rescue
G Metaldehyde 100 g/kg
10 G
2-4
SnailKil kg/ha(T)
P Metaldehyde 60 g/kg 4
6% P 4-8
kg/ha(DS)
Chlorothaloni
F Shield 500 g/L 4 Aldiz Inc.
l
Bayluscide 7-14
Bayer Phils.,
EC Niclosamide 250 g/L tbsp/16L 4
Inc.
250 EC water
Bayluscide
WP 700 g/kg 4
70 WP
7-14
Hit 250 Cropking
EC Niclosamide 250 g/L tbsp/16L 4
EC Chem., Inc.
water
Dow Agro
Trap 70 35 g/16L Sciences
WP Niclosamide 700 g/kg 4
WP water B.V.,
Phils.
2-4
Jardine
Bayonet kg/ha(T)
PEL Metaldehyde 60g/kg 4 Davies;
6% Pellets 4-8
Inc.
kg/ha(DS)
2-4
Leads Agri
Stop 6% kg/ha(T)
PEL Metaldehyde 60 g/kg 4 Product
Pellets 4-8
Corp.
kg/ha(DS)
Archer Nichimen
WP Niclosamide 500 g/kg 4
50WP Corp.
PEL Metaldehyde Ciba Meta 60 g/kg 2-4 4 Novartis
Bait kg/ha(T) Agro
 4-8
Phils., Inc.
kg/ha(DS)
16-20
Meta Flo
F Metaldehyde 300 g/L tbsp/16L 2
600 FL
water
Tannins,
Glycosides, Pro Green
P Kuhol P 245 g/kg 20 kg/ha 4
Sterols, and Phils., Inc.
Flavanoids
7-14
Moluxide Transworld
EC Niclosamide 250g/L tbsp/16L 4
250 EC Trdg.
water

EC - Emulsiflable Concentrate, F - Flowable, G - Granule, P - Powder, PEL - Pellet, WP -

Wettable Powder, T - Transplanted, DS - Direct Seeded, tbsp - tablespoon.
*Based on World Health Organization, classification by hazards: 2 - moderately hazardous; 4 -
unlikely to present acute hazard in normal case

The golden apple snail (Pomacea Tcanalicuta), locally known as golden kuhol, was first
introduced into Philippine farms in 1983 with the hope of providing additional protein source for
dietary improvement of many poor families. But its promising potential turned into a menace for
farmers when the golden apple snail became a prolific pest on rice fields. It grows and increases
rapidly, voraciously feeding on any succulent greens that include newly transplanted rice
seedlings. It destroys farms, livelihood, and has become a burden to rice production.

Although considered a threat in rice production, many farmers are (again) looking at the golden
kuhol at a different perspective. The golden kuhol being remarkably nutritious and easy to digest,
farmers have discovered it to be a good source of supplementary feed for livestock and poultry.
It stimulates fast growth and reproduction. The snail meat provides protein and energy-giving fat
while the shell contains calcium, phosphorous, vitamins, and minerals. Now, a lot of farmers do
not see these golden kuhol as a threat to the fields but rather an opportunity to improve their
livelihood.

Golden kuhol are collected from the fields, crushed, mixed with raw rice bran, and then fed right
away to the animals. There are times when animals are fed with pure golden apple snail straight
from the fields. Studies showed that healthier and heavier livestock are produced using this
feeding scheme. Ducks fed with snail meal can attain more or less than 70% increase in egg
production rate. Further, due to its high nutrition, snail meal could replace fish or meat and bone
meal in broiler diets.
Opportunities abound, but farmers continue to ignore them due to the laborious and time-
consuming task of manually crushing the snails. But as R&D continues to find solution to
farmers’ problem, researchers from the Department of Engineering and Technology of the
Camarines Sur State Agricultural College led by Engr. Marife L. Pesino designed and developed
a mechanically operated golden kuhol grinder-crusher. This machine does not only minimize
laborious work of crushing but it also saves time from manually picking the snails from the fields
and different farm locations. It also gives opportunity for farmers to culture golden kuhol in one
specific area mainly for feed supplement.

The opportunity of converting golden kuhol into useful feeds also saves a lot of money for our
farmers, as they do not have to buy expensive molluscicide to control it, making it environment-
friendly. Likewise, by converting the snails into feed supplements the farmers spend less for
expensive feeds for their livestock and poultry. This likewise reduces the need for imported
fishmeal feeds and save the country’s foreign exchange.

Generally, farm equipment and machineries i.e., tractor, water pump, fruit loader, thresher, etc.,
are never gender-friendly. Women and children who also work in the farm use machines that are
laborious and strenuous to operate. But with the new kuhol crusher-grinder, which was designed
and conceptualized by a lady engineer, crushing and grinding are no longer tedious as before.
The machine is mobile, making it easy to transport.

The design and concept of the crusher-grinder was based on the existing hammer mill machines
used in efficiently reducing sizes of feed materials but is comparably more efficient. The
machine is low-cost and affordable as it is made from indigenous materials.

The golden kuhol crusher-grinder has seven main parts: mainframe assembly, hopper assembly,
upper rotor housing assembly, and lower rotor housing assembly. Its rotor assembly consists of a
swinging and rotating hammer blades that crush and grind golden kuhol through a replaceable
perforated screen. The design of the golden kuhol crusher-grinder is not only economical and
environment-friendly but more important, the machine is gender-friendly.

Performance tests showed that the machine could efficiently and perfectly crush and grind
golden kuhol when operated at 1500 rpm and 2070 rpm, respectively, with the desired particle
size recommended for optimum feed digestibility.