Intraspecific and interspecific chemoattraction inBiomphalaria glabrata andHelisoma trivolvis (Gastropoda: Planorbidae).

A Petri dish bioassay previously used to examine food preferences in planorbid snails was used to study intraspecific and interspecific chemoattraction inBiomphalaria glabrata (albino strain, M-line) andHelisoma trivolvis (Colorado strain) snails.B. glabrata snails showed significant intraspecific chemoattraction in the absence of visual cues and snail thigmotaxis.H. trivolvis snails also showed significant intraspecific chemoattraction. Interspecific chemoattraction between these species occurred in the bioassay, suggesting that the chemoattractants were not species specific. Artificial spring water conditioned by aqueous excretory-secretory products (snail-conditioned water) ofB. glabrata elicited significant intraspecific chemoattraction. However, lipophilic excretory-secretory products ofB. glabrata elicited significant chemorepulsion. Repellant factors in the lipophilic fraction were not characterized.