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Slugs
and Snails
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Slugs and
snails can sometimes cause a lot of damage
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Summary: Slugs and
snails can be important pests in the garden and
landscape. They are most common in wet climates
but snails can be a problem in warm and dry
climates as well. These critters feed on plants by
shredding tender leaves and flowers so combined
with their "slime trails" the damage they do is
easily recognized.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist
(ret.)
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This page can help you get rid of slugs
and snails from your garden and landscape. Slugs
and snails are terrestrial (land) mollusks,
related to clams and shellfish. The difference
between the two is snails have an external shell
while slugs do not. Both are garden pests in wet
climates where they shred plants, especially
tender leaves, with rasping-type "teeth".
In the US slug and snails are most
important on the west coast and in southern
states. Plant damage is usually ragged and
irregular, leaves appear shredded. Often
distinctive "slime trails" can be found that
mark where the critters crawled the night before
as well.
Outside the garden, slugs and snails
actually do beneficial things. They recycle
organic matter helping to build soils and they
are important prey for other wildlife. Inside
the garden and landscape, however, slugs and
snails can do considerable damage and often must
be controlled.
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grey garden slug (about
1/2" long)
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The lives of slugs and snails
Depending on species, slugs and snails need
one or two years to complete a generation. Some
species lay eggs in spring, some lay eggs in fall,
some at both times. Immature slugs and snails
occur in the spring and fall when temperatures
are relatively high and the ground is wet.
Spring and fall are also the best times to
control both slugs and snails. Feeding generally
occurs at night. In the morning slime trails can
often be seen where slugs and snails were the night
before. Currently the best control for garden slugs
and snails are the low toxicity, iron
phosphate-based slug baits such as Sluggo (tm); see
Using Slug and Snail Baits.
Slug and snail baits are available online
through DoMyOwnPestControl here.
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Slugs and snails need hiding places
Because slugs and snails need relatively
damp conditions, they are experts at finding hiding
places where they can shelter during warm days. They
hide under all sorts of debris and even seek shelter
in cracks in the soil during dry periods. Rock
piles are especially good breeding areas but
rock piles also support populations of natural
slug and snail predators like garter snakes;
see How to Control
Slugs and Snails for current recommendations.
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Mission: To provide accurate,
up-to-date and unbiased information for solving
common insect and mite problems around your home,
business and landscape using least-toxic methods.
Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.
Please see the Disclaimer statements as
well.
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