Management of Slugs
Slugs
Slugs belong to the large animal group called gastropods that have diversified to colonize most habitats on the planet; from woodlands to deserts, and from high mountains to the deepest rivers. Slugs can be very damaging pests in moist, shady gardens. They feed on the leaves of many plants, especially seedlings. Later in the season they can feed on ripening fruits and vegetables. Slugs are especially numerous during rainy seasons and in well-irrigated gardens. Most species of slugs are generalists, feeding on a broad spectrum of organic materials, including leaves from living plants, lichens, mushrooms, and even carrion. Some slugs are predators and eat other slugs and snails, or earthworms.
Identification
Slugs are best described as snails without shells. Slugs are soft bodied, generally brownish or grayish, with eye stalks. They vary in size from 1/4 inch to two inches or longer. Slugs leave a silvery slime trail that they secrete (mucus) as they move. This mucus is also used as the slugs navigation system, as slugs will find their way back to their tunnels and feeding sites by following their mucus trail.
A slug has two retractable pairs of tentacles. The upper pair of tentacles are called the optical tentacles and are the eyes of a slug. The optical tentacles have light sensitive eyespots on the end and can be re-grown if lost. These are also used for smell. The lower pair are two smaller tentacles and are used for feeling and tasting.
The mouth parts are below the tentacles and the slugs eat using a radula which is a tongue-like organ that is covered with approximately 27,000 tiny tooth-like protrusions that are called denticles.
Slugs have a large respiratory pore called the pneumostome. This leads to a single lung and is generally found on the right hand side. The mantle is an area behind the head of the slug and is made of thicker flesh than the head. If a slug is frightened or not active the slug will retract its head into the mantle for protection. The mantle also forms the respiratory cavity. The keel is a ridge that runs the length of the back of some species of slug.
Habitat
Most slugs live underground and the ones that can be seen feeding above ground are only approximately 5% of the total slug population.
Cool weather, rain and fog is the best weather for slugs because since they don’t have an outer shell to protect them, they may dry out in dry and warm weather. When the weather is warm and dry slugs will try and find a cool, dark and damp area to hide in. However if there is a long dry spell then slugs will encase themselves in a papery cocoon-like structure and attach themselves to a wall or a tree and wait it out.
Diet
Slugs will grind up their food and will eat things such as:
- Tender leaves
- Seedlings
- Soft fruits
- Fungus
- Decaying matter
Most species of slugs are herbivores however some are carnivores and the diet of a slug varies depending on what species it is. For more information about a certain species’ diet see the Identification guide.
Predators
Slugs have a variety of predators such as:
- Hedgehogs
- Birds (e.g. Thrushes)
- Toads
- Ground Beetles
When a slug is attacked by a predator it will contract its body to make it a smaller target. The mucus that covers a slug’s body doesn’t taste very nice and is slippery, so this is why you will often see birds wiping slugs on the grass before they eat them.
How to Identify Slug or Snail Damage
Slugs do most of their damage at night and on wet, cloudy days. They are most active throughout the spring, early summer and again after autumn rains begin. In warm and wet climates slugs and snails can be active all year. During the day they hide in dark, moist sites under decaying leaves, low growing plants, dirt clods, pots or debris. Slugs are also quite capable of burrowing into the soil by following decayed plant roots, cracks, worm tunnels and along boards surrounding raised beds. These pests are also excellent climbers and can be seen quite high in plants. Snails in particular can seriously damage citrus trees.
What Does Slug Damage Look Like?
- Large, ragged holes in tender leaves and flowers.
- Damage during the spring before many insects are active.
- Traces of silvery slime on chewed leaves or along the ground.
- Seedling leaves completely gone with only a small stem remaining.
- Holes in lettuce, asparagus, the flowers of spring bulbs and many other plants small bites
To manage the slugs’ problem, it is recommended to integrate different tactics. The National Plant Protection Centre recommends the following tactics.
- Elimination of habitat/ Hiding places
Eliminate, as much as possible, all places where slugs can hide during the day. Stones, piles of leaves, old nursery pots, weedy areas and low hanging leaves at the base of plants should be removed.
- Use of repellents
Slugs don’t like to be dry or have their skin irritated. Wood ashes sprinkled as a barrier around your beds will repel the slugs
- Mulching
Fine soil loaded with well broken-down organic matter is unattractive to slugs as it lacks the fine cracks in which to lay eggs. Mulching with sand or gravel is another method as it will provide rough surface for slugs to travel on and they will sometimes avoid it.
- Hand Picking & destroying
Hand picking of slugs (early morning and if possible at night time) is more effective. Remember to use protective gloves to collect and destroy the slugs with salt.
- Use of Predators :
Allow your chickens and ducks into vegetable field as they will feed on slugs, insects and snails.
Slug as a host
Slugs and snails (class Gastropoda) are the obligate intermediate hosts the nematoded; rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis). This nematode is the causative agent of human angiostrongyliasis and the most common cause of human eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. Humans can become infected by accidental consumption/ contact of slugs and possibly flatworms (or a portion of one of these animals) in fresh produce, but the slime from these animals can contain nematodes and may also constitute a disease risk.
Therefore, it is recommended to use protective hand gloves / safety gears during collection and destruction of slugs.
Brief History
Plant protection services started since 1961 as Plant Protection (PP) unit under Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest with the role of providing PP services and distribution of chemicals. Institution of Plant... Read MoreTenders & Announcements
Addendum for supply of energizers and accessories for electric fencing
The National Plant Protection Centre, DoA, MoAF, Semtokha would like to issue an addendum for NIT bid reference no. NPPC/Tender/2018-19/01; …Read More »Notice Inviting Tender
Contract Identification No.: NPPC/Tender/2018-19/01 dated August 17, 2018 The National Plant Protection Centre, DoA, MoAF, Semtokha invites sealed bids from the …Read More »Tender for the supply of laboratory equipments and field safety boots
The National Plant protection Centre, DoA, MoAF, Semtokha invites sealed bids from the interested eligible National bidders having valid trade …Read More »Tender for supply of Agrochemicals
The National Plant Protection Centre invites sealed bid from the authorized dealers of Agrochemical for the supply of Herbicides (Ethoxysulfuron …Read More »Tender document for Transportation of Butaclor 5G
The National Plant Protection Centre (NPPC), Semtokha would like to invite sealed quotation from the authorized transporter for transportation of …Read More »
Publications
Annual Report 2016-17
Annual Report 2014 – 2015
The publication of annual report provides an ideal platform to capture both completed and ongoing activities of the National Plant Protection …Read More »Field evaluation of sulfonylurea herbicides against the broad leaf weed, Potamogeton distinctus A.Bennett, in transplanted rice in Bhutan
IPPC Poster_Weeds2015-kezangtobgyeRead More »Effect of flooding depth and pretilachlor rate…
Abstract The effects of intermittent flooding and pretilachlor rates on emergence and early growth of three common weeds of lowland …Read More »Annual Report 2013-2014
The official plant protection service support to the farming community started in the 1960’s with the implementation of planned agricultural development programs. …Read More »
Wednesday, Feb 20 2019, 1:30 am