Slugs

Constraint – Slugs

Appearance

• Typically slugs are light grey to fawn, with dark brown mottling

• When disturbed the slug will exude a sticky, milky secretion over its body

Symptoms

• Slugs feed above ground on stems and leaves, and below ground on seeds, shoots and roots

• Damage is greatest when seedling growth is slow because of cool, wet or dry conditions

Damage

• Slugs damage newly sown crops and pasture, if population is large damage to seedlings can be extensive

Control

Cultivation prior to sowing, delaying sowing after summer cover has been sprayed out, stubble and weed removal, and baiting are all effective methods for reducing slug populations. When slug pressure is high, baiting alone may not provide total crop protection.

Links and Resources

CSIRO - Protecting germinating grain. Slugs Page 52. Introduction, biology, damage, and control. Published 2009.

DAFWA - Identification of pests of canola. Slugs Pages 18-19. Description, lifecycle, damage, and control. Published 2005.

GRDC - Best Practice Management Guide. Slugs Page 51 of 92. Introduction, factors that increase likelihoood of predation, ineffectiveness of late control measures, monitoring, and control. Published 2009.

GRDC - Slug control fact sheet 4 page PDF. Key points, introduction, lifecycle, species, crop damage, control approaches, monitoring, and building a database for the future. Published 2013.

NIPI - Slugs in seedling crops Information on finding, monitoring, recording, natural enemies, thresholds, control, multi pest considerations, and communication around management. Published 2014.

PIRSA DAFWA & CESAR - I Spy Manual. Slugs Section 4, pages 70-71. Description/distinguishing characteristics, confused with/similar to, distribution, pest status, risk period, host range, damage, monitoring, sampling, and management. Published 2012.