Slugs ganging up at my back door.

GlynD

We are blessed with loads of slugs and snails. They're not really a problem but I have noticed that a large percentage of them at the rear of the house seem to be coming out of/going into an air brick next to the back step. The bungalow has quite a few air bricks below the damp course but only this one appears to have the slug traffic.

I'm going to install fine mesh grilles to eradicate the problem but I am wondering if anyone knows why this is happening? I have my own theories but want to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience and found out the cause or has the knowledge to tell me why.

One clue might be that the kitchen gulley is under the conservatory floor and could be accessed from this point but there are five other gulleys around the house and they don't seem to be attracting the same activity.

BlueC

It will be happening because there is some damp there as slugs and snails can't survive in dry environments. There shouldn't be damp in your air brick or sub-floor void so its a good idea to find where it is coming from. The gully sounds a likely candidate (could be cracked?), but check other less obvious things like guttering and downpipes.

Do you have access to the sub-floor? Might be worth a look in there.

GlynD

BlueC wrote: »

It will be happening because there is some damp there as slugs and snails can't survive in dry environments. There shouldn't be damp in your air brick or sub-floor void so its a good idea to find where it is coming from. The gully sounds a likely candidate (could be cracked?), but check other less obvious things like guttering and downpipes.

Do you have access to the sub-floor? Might be worth a look in there.

No access to the sub floor but we have had a gully inspection. We had a blocked gully round the front as a result of root ingress and the insurance company guy went round the entire property to see if any other work needs to be commissioned. He used a video camera on one of those big pipe things. His report is that all the gullys are clean and intact.

There are no downpipes in the conservatory. The only gully is for the kitchen sink.

The most annoying aspect of it is the constant to-ing anf fro-ing of the beasties at night. Herself hates them with a passion. I'm indifferent but feel I need to eradicate the problem so I'm installing mesh screens over the air bricks. Only two are affected. The screens are manufactured to keep mice out but have found to be effective against slugs as well. It's only two air bricks so no great bother or expense.

I was just curious why they should be gathering at that point.

nickj_2

get a saucer of cheap beer and then they can get in there and die happy
or put up a sign saying no slugs here

GlynD

nickj wrote: »

get a saucer of cheap beer and then they can get in there and die happy
or put up a sign saying no slugs here

Yes very helpful Nick.

Perhaps you hadn't noticed this is a serious thread in the "Home" section of the forum - not the Arms. Flippancy is neither helpful nor invited.

Mr_Ted

GlynD wrote: »

Yes very helpful Nick.

Perhaps you hadn't noticed this is a serious thread in the "Home" section of the forum - not the Arms. Flippancy is neither helpful nor invited.

:rotfl: The beer point IS TRUE but have you also had your funny bone removed :eek:

MoneyMate

We had problems when replacing the back door to Double glazed, had to block up very small hole to solve, enclosed some info just found.
I know it's cruel but gave them a salt bath.

These nocturnal pests hide under rocks and in the earthSlug habitat.
They can also be found under ivy and similar low, ground-covering.
Since mulch helps retain moisture, slugs find this a favorable environment.
They have a great sense of smell and can find their way back to a site by following their slime trail.
Slugs feed in cycles.
There is never more than 5% of a slug population above ground at one time.
Found this info online hope it helps ? :beer:

nickj_2

GlynD wrote: »

Yes very helpful Nick.

Perhaps you hadn't noticed this is a serious thread in the "Home" section of the forum - not the Arms. Flippancy is neither helpful nor invited.

a saucer of ale is an excellent,reliable well known way of disposing of slugs , and not at all flippant and is extremely money saving , helpful and safe .... your welcome

Mayday

On a similar note - how to stop slugs getting under kitchen door and into kitchen ?

Most mornings find their trails on door mat and found one on the inside of my washing machine door the other morning !

It's an old wooden door and not keen to put slug pellets down as we have a JR.

WTFH

Could you try putting down a copper strip under the door?

Another suggestion (for both of you) is not the cheapest, but it does work...
Bird feeders.

Put up bird feeders, you attract birds to your garden. The birds eat the slugs & snails.

GlynD

Mr_Ted wrote: »

:rotfl: The beer point IS TRUE but have you also had your funny bone removed :eek:

nickj wrote: »

a saucer of ale is an excellent,reliable well known way of disposing of slugs , and not at all flippant and is extremely money saving , helpful and safe .... your welcome

Yes the beer point is valid. I object to flippancy on a serious thread however because I'm seeking advice, not jokes. Take the point please and not offence.