330 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. IV, October, 1950 
Melanolepis mul- 
tiglandulosa 
Morinda 
alom 
Euphorbiaceae 
citrifolia 
Operculina 
lada 
Rubiaceae 
turpethum 
alag-alag 
Convolvulaceae 
Passiflora foetida 
Physalis 
dulce 
Passifloraceae 
peruviana 
Pipturus 
tomates chaca 
Solanaceae 
argenteus 
Portulaca 
atmahayan 
Urticaceae 
oleracea • 
T ectaria sp. 
Thespesia 
bordolagus 
Portulaceae 
Polypodiaceae 
populnea 
Vigna marina 
pago 
Malvaceae 
Leguminosae 
Of the above plants certain ones are 
greatly preferred by the snails. These include 
Passiflora foetida (fruit and leaves); certain 
weeds such as Blechum pyramidiatum and 
Physalis peruviana; creeping vines such as 
Ipomoea alba and Operculina turpethum (see 
Fig. 5 ) ; and Melanolepis multiglandulosa 
(which is also a preferred host plant of 
Partula gib ha) . 
Certain plants which are fed upon only 
occasionally are: 
CHAMORRO 
FAMILY 
NAME 
NAME 
NAME 
Bikkia 
mariannensis 
Rubiaceae 
Callicarpa cana 
Verbenaceae 
Capparis 
cordifolia 
Capparidaceae 
Cerbera manghas 
hunig 
Apocynaceae 
Clerodendron 
inerme 
Verbenaceae 
Colocasia 
esculenta 
Araceae 
Ficus tinctoria 
hodda 
Moraceae 
Hernandia 
ovigera 
Hernandiaceae 
Muntingia 
calabura 
Tiliaceae 
Ochrosia 
mariannensis 
Apocynaceae 
Ochrosia 
oppositifolia 
Apocynaceae 
Pandanus spp. 
Pandanaceae 
Psychotria 
mariana 
Rubiaceae 
Pemphis acidula 
Lythraceae 
Trema orient alis 
var. argentea 
Ulmaceae 
Economic damage to vegetable crops va- 
ried from slight damage to complete losses 
depending upon the kind of crop and its lo- 
cation in relation to adequate diurnal resting 
places for the snails. Ripe fruits were pre- 
ferred to green fruits. 
HABITS 
During the latter part of October, 1947, 
snails were quite active, and the presence of 
small snails indicated that a major egg-laying 
period had already been passed. Snails were 
more active at night although they continued 
to feed diurnally during overcast or rainy 
periods. Daytime refuges included trees, 
Fig. 6. Achatina resting on fence post, Saipan, 
October 19, 1947. The vine is Passiflora foetida, 
a preferred food plant. 
