David Gwyn Robinson

United States Department of Agriculture | USDA · USDA APHIS PPQ National Identification Services National Malacology Laboratory

An overview of the land-snail fauna of the Lesser Antillean island of Dominica is given, based on data from literature and four recent surveys. There are 42 taxa listed, of which the following species are recorded for the first time from the island: Allopeas gracile (Hutt on, 1834), A. micra (d'Orbigny, 1835), Beckianum beckianum (L. Pfeiffer, 1846...

In this study, we propose C. confuses, new species, an Andean slug of the genus Colosius Thomé, 1975, and a newly recognized pest of coffee and cultivated flowers from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. We compare it with C. pulcher (Colosi, 1921), a poorly known species with which it has been confused. Our study is based on morphological analysis of a la...

With the expanding global economy, increasing trade volume and international trade agreements facilitating commodity movements worldwide, the risks of "alien" introductions are increasing. Of over 4,900 molluscan interceptions from almost 100 countries by USDA APHIS PPQ over the last five years on commodities entering the United States, some 369 ga...

We performed multi-locus, time-calibrated phylogenetic analyses of Jamaican Pleurodontidae to infer their relationships within pulmonate land snails. These analyses revealed that Sagdoidea, with about 200 species in the Caribbean Basin and neighbouring regions, is the sister group of Helicoidea with about 4700 species worldwide and that these super...

Phylogenetic analyses confirm the monophyly of a group of Drymaeus s.l. species that are characterised by tones of bluish or greenish colours of their bodies. This group is now considered as Antidrymaeus L. Germain, 1907, which was recently elevated from synonymy to generic status. Spe- cies of this group have been found from Florida to Brazil and...

Specimens of a flat and dark brown land planarian were found in a plant nursery in North Carolina, USA in 2020. On the basis of examination of photographs of the live specimens only, the specimens were considered as belonging to Obama nungara , a species originally from South America, which has now invaded a large part of Europe. Unexpectedly, a mo...

Background Terrestrial slugs and snails are increasingly becoming serious pests of agricultural, horticultural and ornamental plants in Egypt, resulting in major economic losses. New information This paper provides a detailed morphological and anatomical description of the veronicellid slug Laevicaulis stuhlmanni (Simroth, 1895) that has been recen...

Terrestrial slugs are becoming abundant quarantine pests attacking many agricultural and horticultural crops as well as ornamental plants in Egyptian fields resulting in increasing loss of the commercial value and decreasing the economic quality . Recently, a number of quarantine-significant terrestrial slugs have been recorded in Egyptian ornament...

The tropical leatherleaf terrestrial slug species Laevicaulis alte (Férussac, 1822) (Pulmonata: Veronicellidae) is reported for the first time in October 2018. The species was found under the pots of ornamental plants and mango seedlings in nursery in Abo Rawash, El Mansouria, Giza governorate (N 30°05.975’ E31°04.717’), Egypt. The species is origi...

We report the introduction of the central and eastern European helicid land snail Caucasotachea vindobonensis in North America. It was first recorded from Rensselaer County in the state of New York in 2015 by a community scientist. From 2016 to 2020, 14 additional occurrences in Rensselaer County, neighbouring Albany County and an imprecisely local...

The history of the giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica) in Miami, Florida is presented. The most recent infestation (2009-2021) is described in detail, with outlines of the strategies and programs conducted by the USDA and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to delimit, control and ultimately eradicate the infestation. It...

The annotated checklist on the extant terrestrial mollusks from Hispaniola Island based on literature from 1758 to 2020 is here presented. We report 612 taxa distributed in three subclasses, 129 genera and 39 families. The most representative families are Annulariidae with 26 genera and 233 species, and Urocoptidae with 14 genera and 104, respectiv...

Llimacs terrestres en vivers, una possible causa de dispersió a l’Argentina Els vivers comercials poden causar la dispersió de cargols i llimacs terrestres (natius i no natius) a través del comerç de plantes i el consegüent transport d’ous i petits individus que poden passar desapercebuts. No hi ha estudis sobre el possible paper dels vivers com a...

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 causin...

Malformations in animals have long been known. In gastropod, natural and induced malformations are mentioned in different systems and in ocular tentacles, mainly linked to cases of parasitism and exposure to pollutants (molluscicides and chemicals). In this study we present a new malformation not documented in the ocular tentacles of slug Deroceras...

An overview of the land snail fauna of the Lesser Antillean islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis is given, based on data from literature and two recent surveys. There are 33 taxa listed, of which 26 are from Saint Kitts and 22 from Nevis. One taxon is described as new: Bulimulus ouallensis Breure and Hovestadt. Furthermore, the following taxa are recor...

The genus Bulimulus Leach 1814 comprises arguably over 100 species and subspecies of mainly Neotropical distribution, occurring in Central and South America, as well as in most Caribbean Islands. The majority of the species are ground dwellers, being common on rock surfaces, as well as among vegetation and leaf litter on the ground. Many species ar...

Basic malacology training for quarantine officers from various Caribbean nations.

The land planarian Platydemus manokwari de Beauchamp, 1963, or "New Guinea flatworm" is a highly invasive species, mainly in the Pacific area, and recently in Europe (France). We report specimens from six additional countries and territories: New Caledonia (including mainland and of the Loyalty Islands, Lifou and Maré), Wallis and Futuna Islands, S...

This research reports the terrestrial slug Meghimatium pictum (Stoliczka, 1873) (Stylommatophora: Philomycidae) as an agricultural pest for the first time in southern Brazil vineyards. The species was found in densities 20 slugs per square meter in Vitis labrusca L. vineyards at six municipalities of southern Brazil's viticulture region. It causes...

The article reviews distribution records of Deroceras invadens (previously called D. panormitanum and D. caruanae), adding significant unpublished records from the authors’ own collecting, museum samples, and interceptions on goods arriving in the U.S.A. By 1940 D. invadens had already arrived in Britain, Denmark, California, Australia and probably...

Boettgerilla pallens Simroth, 1912 is reported for the first time in the United States. Identification was based on combined morphological and molecular data (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I and 16S rDNA sequences) of a specimen collected in the retail garden center in northern California. We provide some background information on the biology...

For the first few centuries of colonization of the United States, most of the invasive snails and slugs were of European origin. Most of the species have been widespread throughout the lower 48 states. and cause significant damage to agriculture and the environment. It is estimated that the United States loses $120 billion to invasive species in ge...

The island of Barbados is located in the Atlantic Ocean, 150 km east of the Lesser Antillean Archipelago, at 13°10' N, 59°35' W. It is a limestone island of low relief with a land area of 430 square kilometres and a maximum elevation of 330 metres. The island was settled by the English in 1627 and suffered severe loss of original vegetation to faci...

There has been no comprehensive inventory of the malacofauna of the island of Puerto Rico since Henry van der Schalie's 1948 book, and none on the islands of Culebra, and Vieques. Carlos Aguayo created a checklist of Puerto Rican snails and slugs in 1966, with a number of undescribed species. The snails of the islands of Mona and Monito were invent...

Morphological and molecular analyses were performed to delineate taxa in Sarasinula, a genus of terrestrial slugs of the family Veronicellidae, in view of the difficulties in differentiating its species and their long-confused taxonomy. The genus is important for agriculture and public health, including pest species and intermediate hosts of nemato...

Laboratory bioassays and caged field trials were conducted to compare the acute toxicities of molluscicide formulations on the neonate, juvenile, and adult development stages of giant African snail (GAS) Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich 1822) and 3 non-target snail species in Barbados. Nine commercially available molluscicides, diatomaceous earth, and...

The Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS), part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), together with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are tasked with the prevention of the introduction of agricultural and environmental pests into the USDA. The responsibility to mitigate the risk of pest and disease introdu...

With increasing globalization of international trade, the threat of invasive snails and slugs is becoming apparent to most governments in the world. Within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the responsibility to mitigate the risk of pest and disease introductions while adhering to obligations under international trade agreements i...

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has responded in a variety of ways to the South Florida introduction of Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich). The USDA coordinates with the efforts of the state department and other local groups towards the eradication of this destructive pest. Providing financial resources has its limitations and require...

The Asian semi-slug, Parmarion cf. martensi Simroth, 1893, and the Cuban slug, Veronicella cubensis (Pfeiffer, 1840) are two very important pest gastropods in the Pacific region. The Asian semi-slug was first discovered on the Big Island of Hawaii (Hawaii Island) in 2004 and is now abundant in certain lowland areas along the wetter eastern side, Th...

In 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture requested assistance from the American Malacological Society in the development of a list of non-native snails and slugs of top national quarantine signifi cance. From a review of the major pest snail and slug literature, together with our own experience, we developed a preliminary list of gastropod speci...

The semi-slug Parmarion cf. martensi Simroth, 1893, was first discovered on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, in 1996 and then on the island of Hawai‘i in 2004. This species, which is probably native to Southeast Asia, is abundant in eastern Hawai‘i Island, reportedly displacing the Cuban slug, Veronicella cubensis (Pfeiffer, 1840), in some areas. A survey in July–A...

Laboratory bioassays and caged field trials were conducted to compare concomitant molluscicide effects on three development stages of the giant African snail (GAS) (Achatina fulica) and three non-target snail species in Barbados. Nine commercially available molluscicides, diatomaceous earth, and a kaolin clay product (Surround WP) were evaluated in...

As part of a study of snail and slug pests on subsistence and garden crops on islands in the American Pacific, the islands of Guam and Rota were surveyed for terrestrial gastropods in August 2004. Non-native, invasive species are by far the most pervasive elements on both islands, with Veronicella cubensis reaching epidemic proportions on Rota. The...

The introduction of three species of the Achatinidae, Achatina fulica Bowdich 1822, Archachatina marginata (Swainson 1821) and Limicolaria aurora (Jay 1839) into the Eastern Caribbean is documented. The giant African snail, Achatina fulica, was deliberately introduced to Guadeloupe circa 1984. From Guadeloupe the snail was spread to Martinique by 1...

The islands of the Eastern Caribbean, with the exception of Barbados, are a part of an island arc system that stretches from Sombrero in the north to Grenada in the south. There is an inner volcanic arc of mountainous islands, and an outer arc of limestone islands, representing an older, submerged volcanic chain. The relative age, relief, geology,...

The number of alien species of terrestrial molluscs in North America continues to increase despite existing quarantine barriers. The effects of non-indigenous species on agriculture, horticulture or the environment have yet to be ascertained, but are potentially serious. We report the recent introduction of seven species of terrestrial species into...

This paper reports new findings in North America of two pest slugs from Europe. Tandonia budapestensis, previously unknown from America, was found in Washington DC and near Philadelphia. Deroceras panormitanum, unreported from the Eastern United States and from Eastern North America outside of greenhouses, was found in Washington DC. We describe ho...

Veronicella sloanei (Cuvier, 1817) is believed native to Jamaica, but has spread to a number of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, as well as Bermuda. We have documented its presence in Grand Cayman, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, and St. Lucia, and it has been introduced recently into St. Vincent. It is the largest of the veronicellid slug specie...

Three species of the terrestrial snail genus Zachrysia are confirmed as established outside of Cuba. Their shells are often difficult to differentiate from one another, although anatomically they are quite distinct. Zachrysia trinitaria (Pfeiffer, 1858) appears so far to be restricted to the Miami-Dade area of Florida. Although shells matching thos...

Plant Protection and Quarantine of the USDA is responsible for preventing the importation of exotic agriculture pests including terrestrial mollusks. Pests that are 'exotic' and found associated with imported commodities are considered 'actionable' requiring the commodity to be either rejected for importation or it must undergo a 'quarantine treatm...

Alien species cost the USA billions of dollars annually in damage and in efforts to control them. Agriculture, the environment, human health ad well-being, and commerce are all affected. At the request if the United States Department of Agriculture, the American Malacology Society is creating a list, with associated factsheets, of "America's least...

After an outbreak in 2000 of eosinophilic meningitis in tourists to Jamaica, we looked for Angiostrongylus cantonensis in rats and snails on the island. Overall, 22% (24/109) of rats harbored adult worms, and 8% (4/48) of snails harbored A. cantonensis larvae. This report is the first of enzootic A. cantonensis infection in Jamaica, providing evide...

There is a growing need to document and conserve molluscan diversity, both for scholarly reasons and for public benefit. While the pursuance of these goals necessarily relies on historical records, the accuracy of such records is often taken for granted. We analyzed six previously published lists of land snails on the island of Barbados, and we com...

The status of the invasive terrestrial slug fauna needs revision for several reasons. The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Service, (USDA, APHIS), intercepts slugs on various commodities at international ports. A mission of APHIS is to prevent the importation of exotic plant species. Unfortunately, a fair number of s...

With the expanding global economy, increasing trade volume and international trade agreements facilitating commodity movements worldwide, the risks of "alien" introductions are increasing. Of over 4,900 molluscan interceptions from almost 100 countries by USDAAPHIS PPQ inspectors over the last five years on commodities entering the United States, s...

The Moín Formation is located in and around the port of Puerto Limón, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It has been dated as being early to middle Pleistocene in age. The systematics of its constituent prosobranch gastropods were studied, and comparisons made with Recent and fossil gastropod faunas in the Caribbean area. 65% of the taxa are liv...

The prosobranch gastropod fauna of the early Pleistocene Moin Formation of Costa Rica consists of a rich assemblage of species, which are derived from a variety of different habitats, ranging from the rocky intertidal environment to a muddy substrate of the middle neritic zone. The shallower elements of the fauna reached the site of deposition on t...

Research on the malacological fauna of Caribbean Province on the Atlantic coast of Central America, and particularly in Costa Rica, is presented. A list of marine mollusks collected in ten localities of the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica, is presented. This inventory has 395 species: 288 Gastropoda, 100 Pelecypoda, 5 Polyplacophora, and 2 Cephalopoda...