Evaluation of three plant extracts as molluscicides against the brown slug with black spots, Filicaulis alte Ferussac.
Kaur H., Chhabra E.
Author Affiliation: Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004, India.
Pest Management and Economic Zoology 17 : 63-70
Abstract : The brown slug with black spots, Filicaulis alte Ferussac, is the predominant colour form of slugs in plant nurseries where they damage tender seedlings of plants, often necessitating control. Fresh extracts of plant parts, viz., rhizomes of ginger, cloves of garlic and leaves of neem, in water and alcohol were evaluated at different concentrations, with or without fortification of bait prepared from wheat bran with mango flavour or apple juice, were evaluated in bi-choice feeding tests under laboratory conditions. The results revealed the following order of bait acceptance: water extract of ginger > alcohol extract of ginger > alcohol extract of garlic > water extract of garlic > water extract of neem > alcohol extract of neem. Of all the extracts, water extract of ginger in wheat bran bait resulted in the highest mortality (60%) of the slugs under laboratory conditions and 20-50 per cent under field conditions in an ornamental plant nursery. However, fortification of bait with food attractants like mango flavour or apple juice (3%) did not enhance the bait acceptance, rather it reduced the slug control. The study thus showed that fresh extract of ginger rhizomes in water at 0.05 per cent can be recommended for use against slugs in plant nurseries.