• Dr. Badal Kumar Das

Tropical Leatherleaf Slug, Laevicaulis alte is the most destructive invasive molluscan pest of agri-horticultural crops in India. Several aspects of biology and ecology of this Garden Slug have already been investigated with an aim to formulate control measures for such pestiferous species. Now-a-days the efficacy of different chemical molluscicides utilised for the said purpose is in question because of serious concern over development of species resistance to the compounds used as well as toxicity caused to the non-target organisms present in the environment. The present investigation has progressed in laboratory condition by utilising aqueous extracts of Tobacco leaf, Tea leaf & Neem leaf as three plant derived molluscicides considered to be safe, inexpensive and environment friendly alternative of previously used synthetic molluscicides. Total immersion of test species in aqueous extract of selected plant molluscicides for entire duration of treatment has been found to be the most effective technique for mortality studies that caused severe slime secretion and death out of desiccation, thereby discarding other methods. Mortality rate of slugs has been estimated to be more effective during treatment in higher concentration with less duration of exposure as well as in low concentration but with longer duration of exposure in respective plant derived molluscicides. A significant positive correlation is also observed between test concentrations and percentage of mortality of species for 24 hours of treatment in selected plant derived molluscicides. The impact of toxicity of said aqueous extracts has also been statistically examined with degree of effectiveness on the species as Tobacco leaf (Highly toxic) ˃Tea leaf (Moderately toxic) ˃ Neem leaf (Less toxic) in existing laboratory condition.

Laevicaulis alte, plant molluscicides, aqueous extracts, mortality

"Efficacy of some plant derived molluscicides for controlling pestiferous slug, Laevicaulis alte in odisha", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 7, page no.b468-b478, July-2022, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2207155.pdf

"Efficacy of some plant derived molluscicides for controlling pestiferous slug, Laevicaulis alte in odisha", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 7, page no. ppb468-b478, July-2022, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2207155.pdf