Four records of new to Egypt gastropod species including the first reported Tropical Leatherleaf slug Laevicaulis alte (d’A. de Férussac, 1822) (Pulmonata: Veronicellidae)

Abstract

A survey of terrestrial mollusks was performed during their activity season in various spots of gardens, nurseries and agricultural fields in Cairo, Giza as well as in some neighboring areas between December 2014 and October 2018. Several invasive terrestrial gastropod species were identified. These gastropods are invasive and abundant pests causing considerable and serious damage to agricultural areas in the Nile Delta Region of Egypt. The specimens were collected from different locations in the governorates of Cairo and Giza. A total of 12 species (8 species of terrestrial snails and 4 of slugs) were identified by their shell characteristics and genital-anatomical characters. The following four species were identified for the first time in Egyptian gardens and nurseries: 1) Polygyra cereolus (Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1816), 2) Oxychilus cf. cellarius (O. F. Müller, 1774), 3) Zonitoides arboreus (Say, 1816) and 4) Laevicaulis alte (d’ A. de Férussac, 1822), which is particularly injurious to agricultural production. The other invasive species reported in this study were recorded in other agricultural fields and are common pests of gardens, nurseries and agricultural areas in Egypt. This study presents essential information on each species, their original and current distribution in Egyptian agricultural fields.