In vitro Assessment of the Food Preference and Toxicity of Five Insecticides against The Land Snail Eobania vermiculata (Gastropoda; Helicidae)

R.K. Al-Harbi¹, A.M. Ismail¹²³*, A.S.M.E. Bashandy⁴, M.H. Awwad², H.M. Raddy⁵ and E.E.E. Korrat⁵

¹King Faisal University, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Department of Arid Land Agriculture, P.O. Box 420, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
²King Faisal University, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Pests and Plant Diseases Unit, P.O. Box 420, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
³Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Plant Pathology Research Institute, Vegetable Diseases Research Department, Giza 12619, Egypt
⁴Al-Azhar Univ., Faculty of Agric., Agricultural Zoology and Nematology Dept., Cairo, Egypt
⁵Al Azhar University, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt
*Correspondence: amismail@kfu.edu.sa

Abstract:

The land snail Eobania vermiculata is one of the most cosmopolitan and harmful agricultural pests, causing economic devastation to many crops. For this purpose, the choice and non-choice methods was used to determine the palatability of certain plants for E. vermiculata. Moreover, the vulnerability of the snail was assessed via its exposure to five common insecticides (spirotetramat, sulfoxaflor, chlorantraniliprole, spinetoram and fipronil) using leaf-dipping technique under laboratory conditions. The median lethal dose was determined for each compound while biomarkers, such as enzymatic activity levels of AST, ALT, total protein TP, and lipid TL were used to evaluate sublethal effects. The findings of the no-choice feeding trial revealed that E. vermiculata significantly consumed a higher amount of Lactuca scariola var. sativa leaves compared to other tested plants. Cichorium cicorea leaves were found to be the least preferred by E. vermiculata, with an average of 1.71 g after 5 days. On the other hand, the results of the free choice feeding trial revealed that L. scariola var. sativa and Brassica oleracea leaves were the most frequently consumed by E. vermiculata. Conversely, E. vermiculata exhibited the lowest preference towards Brassica rapa leaves. The results of the molluscicidal activity indicated that the mortality rate is dose-dependent. After one month of exposure to a concentration of 1,000 ppm per 100 mL, chlorantraniliprole caused 46.4% mortality, followed by sulfoxaflor and fipronil, which exhibited equal mortality values of 42.9%. The latter insecticides revealed LC₅₀ of 1,010.5, 2,501.9, and 1,444.7 ppm per 100 mL against E. vermiculata, respectively. Nevertheless, spinetoram and spirotetramat caused a lower mortality rate for E. vermiculata. The biochemical analysis results showed that the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total proteins (LP), and the lipid profile of E. vermiculata have increased by 50% in response to the insecticides. Compared to the control and other compounds, spirotetramat increased total cholesterol by 33 mg dL^-1. The activity of ALT, AST, and triglycerides decreased after the application of spinetoram and fipronil treatment, with values reaching 13 u L^-1, 32 u L^-1, and 4 mg dL^-1 of TL, respectively. However, no substantial effects of insecticides were observed on TP, Total cholesterol, LDH, or LP levels after the exposure period. The study’s findings indicate that chlorantraniliprole, a novel insecticide group, could be a promising approach for controlling the land snail E. vermiculata. Unlike other, more hazardous insecticides, chlorantraniliprole has not previously been used to control snails. Furthermore, it appears to be safe for non-target organisms and mammals, making it an excellent choice for snail management.

Key words:

biochemical analysis, Eobania vermiculata, food preferences, insecticides, mortality