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

an aqueous extract prepared from kernels of the fruit of thevetia peruviana (pers.) schumann (family : apocynaceae) was found under experimental conditions, to be toxic ti the slug laevicaulis alte (férussac) and the snail achatina fulica bowdich, the important agrihorticultural pests 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 gastropods.