RESEARCH ON THE TOXICITY OF VARIOUS BACIL LUS-THURINGIENSIS BERLINER STRAINS TO 3 SPECIES OF SLUGS

Toxicity of several Bacillus thuringiensis preparations had been shown against the grey field slug Deroceras reticulatum (Muller) and the aq uatic snail Biomphalaria alexandrina (Ehrenberg) by previous authors, letting view a method of microbiological control of gastropods. Theref ore, the toxicities of some of these products and of several unformula ted strains, having different insecticide activities, were studied on three species of slugs: D reticulatum, Arion distinctus Mabille and Li max valentianus Ferussac, and compared to molluscicide products of ref erence. Amongst the products tested, two contained the beta-exotoxin ( Bitoxibacillin 5 and the surnatant H1). However, no strain of Bacillus showed to be toxic for the three slug species. Only the molluscicide products confirmed their efficiency against the slugs.