Journal of Environmental Biology

Body mass and cuticular transpiration of the pulmonate slug Milax rusticus treated with spinach homogenate filtrate

 

G. Achuthan Nair¹, Nouara El-Azirag El-Ammari² and Saleh Salem Bushaiba²

¹Deprtment of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram-695 581, India

²Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Garyounis, Post Box: 9480, Benghazi, Libya

 

(Received: 7 August, 2004 ; Accepted: 4 June, 2005)

 

Abstract: The effects of four concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100%) of spinach homogenate filtrate over a period of 96 hours on the body mass and transpiration rates of the pulmonate slug Milax rusticus, a crop pest found in Benghazi, Libya, are reported.? A decrease in body mass and transpiration rate in filtrate treated slug over time was evident and the differences in these factors between control and treated slug were significant (p<0.01).? Tendencies for regaining lost weight and increase in transpiration were observed in the filtrate treated slugs during their seven days of recovery period in normal conditions.? Application of spinach homogenate filtrate as a possible contact slugicide of M.rusticus is suggested.

 

Key words: Milax rusticus, Spinach homogenate filtrate, Body mass, Transpiration rate.

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