Comparative molluscicidal activity of Fe2O3 and CuO nanoparticles against the harmful herbivorous snail Theba pisana

This study addresses the increasing agricultural impact of Theba pisana , a destructive terrestrial snail pest that causes significant crop damage worldwide. The study aimed to synthesize and evaluate the molluscicidal activity of iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles against this species. Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles were biosynthesized using Punica granatum seed extract as potential alternative reducing and stabilizing agent under mild conditions, while CuO nanoparticles were prepared by thermal decomposition of CuCO 3 at 500 °C for 2 h. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using SEM, XRD, FTIR, and EDX analyses. Their molluscicidal activity was assessed against the target snail species under laboratory conditions using the leaf-dipping technique. The results demonstrated that CuO nanoparticles exhibited higher toxicity than Fe 2 O 3 , as indicated by lower LC 50 values (455.32 ppm for CuO and 703.61 ppm for Fe 2 O 3 ). Mortality increased with concentration and exposure time. These findings highlight the greater molluscicidal activity of CuO nanoparticles and suggest their potential integration into integrated pest management (IPM) programs for the control of terrestrial snails.