Abstract

Suitability of Tridax procumbens leaves in laboratory feeding of Bulinus truncatus and Bulinus globosus was assessed in comparison with Lactuca sativa between September and October, 2011. The snails were collected from Eri-lope stream in Ago-Iwoye, while T. procumbens were collected from the Mini Campus of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu North, Southwestern Nigeria. For B. truncatus, fresh, sun-dried and oven-dried T. procumbens were used, while only fresh T. procumbens were used for B. globosus.  The mean percentage survivals of B. truncatus fed with fresh, sun-dried and oven-dried T. procumbens compared with those of the corresponding control snails showed no significant difference (2 = 0.51, 1.85, and 2.21, respectively). B. truncatus fed with fresh T. procumbens had the highest mean live-weight percentage increase (46.4%) as compared to those fed with sun-dried and oven-dried (2 = 45.65). The mean percentage survival of B. globosus fed with fresh T. procumbens (79.2%) was similar with that of the control (84.6%) (2 = 0.18). The percentage increase in mean live-weight of B. globosus fed with fresh T. procumbens (24.0%) was lower as compared to the control (2 = 5.34). This study showed that feeding the studied snails using T. procumbens may be profitable in Ijebu North, Southwestern Nigeria.

Key words: Bulinus truncatus, Bulinus globosus, laboratory feeding, Tridax procumbens.