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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.
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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 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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2004-... LivingWithBugs, LLC. All
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