Incidence of wood-boring molluscs in the oyster farms at Tuticorin

Abstract

Wooden pilings heavily riddled by molluscan wood-borers, pulled out from the oyster farm at Karapad Creek in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India were examined to assess the species involved and the nature of vertical distribution. Teredo furcifera was found to be the most important borer even though others like Lyrodus pedicellatus, L. affinis and Martesia striata were also present. The intensity of attack of the shipworms was found to be maximum above the mud-line while that of Martesia mainly below the low-water mark. The nature of organisms in the fouling complex and probable causes for infestation are discussed with suggestions for minimising the attack