Thevetia peruviana (Family: Apocynaceae) in the control of slug and snail pests

Abstract

An aqueous extract prepared from Kernels of the fruit of Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) Schumann (Family : Apocynaceae) was found under experimental conditions, to be toxic to the slug Laevicaulis alte (Ferussac) and the snail Achatina fulica Bowdich, the important agrihorticultural pears of Indo-Pacific countries. Concentrations as low as 1% (w/v) killed all the slugs exposed in less than 981.00 (+/- SD 22.76) min, and 2% of the extract killed 100% of the slugs L. alte and 50%, 50% and 30% of the snail A, fulica in between 92.34 (+/- SD 6.63) - 321.33 (+/- SD 4.14) and 271.20 (+/- SD 17.54) - 298.26 (+/- SD 16.69) min respectively. The most effective concentration of the extract was 20% it killed 100% of exposed slugs and snails within a short time (40-50 and 90-1440 min respectively) when the extract was exposed on the soil in experimental trays or when it was applied to potato slices offered as food to the gastopods.