Molluscicidal Effect of Neem and Titepati Extract on Giant African Land Snail (Achatina Fulica)

Abstract

Invasive Giant African Land Snails (GALS) are herbivorous, voracious feeders, pose serious threats to native species, and that could affect the ecosystem and is considered as a snail pest. The various botanical plant has been used as a source of molluscicides to control mollusks pest. Many plant species have chemical compounds and using these plants or their extracts can be used to control the activities or to kill the targeted pest species. This study aimed to identify the effects of Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Titepati (Artemisia vulgaris) on the survival activities of GALS. Differently concentrated solutions of fresh neem leaf and titepati leaf, bark, and root were used for the experimental design to observe the activities of GALS. The solution for each part was prepared from collected plant samples which were dried and extracted with the help of a rotatory evaporator at the laboratory. The findings of this experiment showed that there was a significant effect of extract solution treatment on the activities of GALS in comparison to control treatment (p < 0.0001), and also the activities of GALS were varied between control and mulching treatments (p < 0.0001). In addition, the higher concentrated solution (at 5%) of neem leaf was more effective (p < 0.0001) than at 2.5% concentrated solution to control the activities of GALS. Similar, effects were also noticed on the titepati extract on the activities of GALS. The severe effects of these extracts were noticed within two weeks of the experiment. Eggs were completely damaged and the two GALS died within the treatment experiments. Both titepati leaf, bark and root, and neem leaf have molluscicidal effects on the activities of GALS that repels the snails away from the sources and kill them. Therefore, based on the effectiveness of Neem and Titepati plant extracts from this study, I recommend using these plants and their products to control the potential distribution of GALS to control the crop and vegetable damages from GALS.