Interactions

While not much information is specifically known about the predation and interactions of Stenotrema hirsutum, most terrestrial land snails have a large number of predators because of their small size and slow speed. These facts would also indicate that they are pretty low on the overall food chain.

The S. hisutum lives in a number of different places with a large variety of organisms including a diverse selection of plants, fungi, and other animals. 

Some of the their invertebrate predators include beetles and their larvae, flies, nematodes, mites, and even other snails (Hottop, 2005)!  For example, the species Haplotrema concavum has been known to prey on S. hisutum and other land snails (Baker, 2004).

Some of their vertebrate predators include shrews, mice and other small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds (Hottop, 2005).  Each predator has a different way of attacking the land snail depending on their size and capabilities (Hottop, 2005). 

Because the S. hisutum and other land snails are low on the food chain, they have developed a number of defense mechanisms to protect themselves from predators.  Some of these include cryptic coloration and irritating smells and tastes to deter some predators.  Other defenses include a thickened shell, increased mucus secretion, and fast hiding mechanisms to avoid predation (Hottop, 2005). 

Although not much is known about parasitism in S. hisutum, many land snails are used as an intermediate host for a variety of parasites.  Some of these parasites include the large (Fasciola hepatica) and the small liver fluke (Dicrocoelium lanceolatum), the pair fluke (Schistosoma mansoni, causing the bilharziosis illness), as well as Leucochloridium paradoxum (Nordsiek, 2010).

There was no information about S. hisutum and its interactions with humans.
                                                                          Succinea putris with parasitic trematode

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