Use of botanical extracts to control the land snail Eobania vermiculata (Gastropoda: Helicidae) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The laboratory experiment was conducted at Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt, in March 2024 to study the efficacy of three plant extracts (Allium sativum, Croton tiglium, and Senecio cineraria) with three concentrations (20, 25, and 30 mg/ml) for each on the land snail, Eobania vermiculata (Müller) (Gastropoda: Helicidae). Results showed that C. tiglium had the highest mortality rate (21.48%), followed closely by A. sativum mortality rate (20.20%), while S. cineraria had the lowest mortality rate 18.24%. Mortality rates increased with higher concentrations of the extracts, with A. sativum achieving the highest mean mortality rate of 30.68% at 30 g/l. The study evaluated the lethal effects of various plant extracts on the land snail species; E. vermiculata over exposure durations from 1^st to 7^th days, focusing on lethal concentrations (LC₅₀ and LC₉₅). S. cineraria demonstrated the highest effectiveness (LC₅₀: 34.95 mg/ml, LC₉₅: 89.43 mg/ml), while C. tiglium and A. sativum exhibited moderate effectiveness (LC₅₀: 32.28 mg/ml and 29.89 mg/ml, respectively). A positive correlation was observed between extract concentration and mortality rates. The phytochemical analysis of all three extracts revealed flavonoids and alkaloids, which indicate possible molluscicidal activities.