How to deal with slugs in the garden: 10 easy ways

What do slugs look like: photo

Description of slugs

Name: Slug
Latin: Arion lusitacus

Class: Gastropoda - Gastropoda

	Habitats:	anywhere with high humidity
	Dangerous for:	greens, vegetables, berries
	Means of destruction:	special preparations

Slugs or slugs are a range of gastropods. But they, unlike the snails familiar to many, have no or modified shell.

Slug lifestyle

The average life of mollusks is 12-18 years, but depending on the species, the figures can be much higher.

Reproduction

Slugs reproduce sexually, but there are several different variations of this process.

1. The connection of the genitals of different individuals, and there may not be a pair, but even 4.
2. Apophalation. The male reproductive organs are bitten off and the females envelop them.
3. Throwing. Some species use a different method - males throw sperm in the direction of the genitals.

After fertilization, about 30 eggs are laid in the ground or bedding. After a few weeks, they become eggs, and for another month, individuals develop inside.

Food

Most species are unpretentious and eat organic materials. It can be mosses, leaves, mushrooms. They make useful humus from plant residues - this is their benefit. But there are also predators that feed on their own, caterpillars and earthworms.

In agriculture, they cause significant harm:

They carry various diseases and fungal spores.

Natural enemies

Slugs have many enemies, but there are no animals that feed on these particular mollusks. Among those who like to eat slugs are noted:

Habitat

The main condition for the existence of slugs is high humidity. But they are found everywhere. The eggs or adults hibernate deep in the ground.

types of slugs

There are a lot of different gastropod molluscs. There are those that are widespread, and there are species that are found in a certain area.

Slug big

The size varies from 100 to 200 mm. Hue yellowish, ashy or off-white. White sole, dark pink tentacles. A pest of greenery and often lives in vegetable stores. In turn, there are representatives of this subspecies: black, spotted, red.

field slug

A particularly harmful representative that breeds at high humidity. Damages vegetables, ornamental crops, greens. Tolerates late blight and downy mildew. There are more than 100 species in total.

Slug road

Mollusk with a hard shield on one third of the body. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle, afraid of the bright sun. It reproduces rapidly and adapts to changing conditions. Can withstand moisture levels up to 50%.

How to deal with slugs

Do not think that outwardly weak slugs are defenseless. In times of massive animal attack on plantations, it can be quite difficult to eradicate them.

Mechanical methods

Collection of slugs.

These are methods that require time and effort, but will help to effectively protect the site without the use of chemicals.

1. Manual collection. In the early morning, when the humidity is high, you need to look at the places under the porches, near the buckets, in the rosettes of strawberries and strawberries, under the grape and cabbage leaves.
2. Traps. You can lure gastropods with pleasant aromas for them: beer, kefir, citrus fruits, melons, corn. The container is filled with bait and dug into the ground.

Creating a barrier

This method is very simple - it creates obstacles for the penetration of slugs into the area. They do not like harsh smelly substances, copper-based materials, materials that are not comfortable for animals to crawl on.

They are placed around the perimeter of the site, even better in two lanes. The same fence is placed near the trees or within the vineyard.

Folk methods

These are effective remedies that will help get rid of slugs, but will not harm useful animals. The table below lists the effective methods and their application.

Chemicals

If there are a lot of mollusks, you need to move on to a quick and effective fight. Chemical preparations that cause death will help in this. They are most often granulated or in powder form. The composition contains substances that destroy gastropods, and the smell attracts them.

The drug is scattered in places where slugs accumulate, but so that it does not fall on the paws of pets.

Collected slugs.

The best on the market are:

• "Slug";
• "Thunderstorm";
• "Ulicid".

Prevention of the appearance of slugs on the site

Gastropods easily adapt to different conditions, spread very quickly and cause unique harm. To prevent the appearance, you need to reduce the humidity and clean the places where they can breed and eat enough.

1. Autumn and spring digging, who will help push the slugs out into the cold or bright sun, where they will die.
2. Weeding between rows, so that in the thick grass it is not comfortable for the slugs to rest.
3. Remove carrion, pieces of branches and any places where they can live comfortably.
4. Mulch plantings with hard material, which will prevent slugs from moving around the site.
5. Planting taking into account the neighborhood and avoid thickening.
6. Carry out drainage in case of approaching groundwater.

Conclusion

Slugs in the area can do a lot of harm. They voraciously spoil a large number of green parts and various vegetables, and also carry various diseases from crop to crop. It is better to start with prevention, then, if necessary, move on to active protection.