TRANSPORT OF UNCONTAMINATED AND MOLLUSCICIDE-CONTAINING FOOD IN THE DIGESTIVE-TRACT OF THE SLUG DEROCERAS-RETICULATUM (MULLER)

By X-ray analysis of food transport in the alimentary tract of Deroceras reticulatum it was shown that even ten hours after ingestion of a thorium sulfate-containing bait, this material can be detected in the crop. After 2.5 h, some parts of labelled food passes down from the anterior to the posterior part of the gut. After 13 h, thorium Sulfate-containing material can be observed only in the gut. After 19 h, no more labelled material is present in the alimentary tract of the animals. After addition of Cloethocarb, the animals feed on only small amounts of food. The labelled material only enters the anterior part of the gut. After ten hours, the food does not move any more and does not leave the crop even 19 h after feeding. After molluscicide application, the crop epithelium is more infolded than in control animals and the cells are elongated. After 30 h, cells protrude into the lumen of the digestive tract.