Slugs gone ?

50Twuncle

I believe that the last few weeks of dry weather has helped get rid of slugs from my garden
Normally - by early August - the slimy creatures start appearing on the lawn edges

But this year - I have yet to see a single slug
Unless they had the ability to go extremely deep to damp earth - hopefully, this year will see fewer slugs ?

[Deleted User]

OK. Here goes - takes deep breath - I know everyone will hate me for saying this...

"Hi, I'm Spider In The Bath and I don't really get slugs and snails in my garden"

Sorry, sorry everyone. Sorry

Davesnave

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

OK. Here goes - takes deep breath - I know everyone will hate me for saying this...

"Hi, I'm Spider In The Bath and I don't really get slugs and snails in my garden"

Sorry, sorry everyone. Sorry

We get them, but not as badly as when we were on clay soil. They've been hiding for months.

We have pigeons, rabbits, foxes and badgers all knocking around nearby though...and none of those is any bother at all.:)

50Twuncle

I used "SLUGSURE" 5 years ago - which decimated the slug population - they only recovered in numbers last year - so hopefully - the dry weather will be the last straw for them ....
I used to get whoppers - some a good 6 inches long !!

50Twuncle

Some interesting slug facts :

• Only 5% of the slug population is above ground at any one time. The other 95% is underground digesting your seedlings, laying eggs, and feeding on roots and seed sprouts.
• A slugs blood is green.
• Most British slugs eat rotting vegetation, but a few are carnivorous.
• Slugs do play an important role in ecology by eating decomposing vegetation.
• A slug lays 20-100 eggs several times a year.
• Slug eggs can lay dormant in the soil for years and then hatch when conditions are right.
• Gastropods form the second largest class in the animal kingdom, the largest being the insects.
• Slugs are hermaphrodite, having both male and female reproductive organs.
• Slugs have been present in the British Isles since the end of the last ice age.
• In favourable conditions a slug can live for up to 6 years.
• A slug is basically a muscular foot, and the name gastropod, literally means stomach foot.
• Unlike snails that hibernate during winter, slugs are active whenever the temperature is above 5°C.
• A slug is essentially a snail without a shell.
• Slugs used to live in the ocean, which is why they still need to keep moist.
• One individual field slug has the potential to produce about 90,000 grandchildren.
• British gardeners use over 400 billion slug pellets every year.
• Its been estimated that an acre of farmland may support over 250,000 slugs.
• Research has shown that the average UK garden has a population of over 20,000 slugs and snails.
• A cubic metre of garden will on average contain up to 200 slugs.
• A slugs slime enables it to glide without difficulty over glass shards, or even the edge of a razor blade.
• Slugs have the capability to reproduce by themselves, although a mate is preferred.
• When picked up or touched, the Black Slug will contract into a hemispherical shape and begin to rock from side to side. This behaviour confuses predators.
• Slugs leave their own individual scent trail so they can find their way home.
• A slugs slime absorbs water, which is why its nearly impossible to wash it off your hands.
• A slugs slime contains fibres which prevents it from sliding down vertical surfaces.
• A slug smells with its body.
• Britain is home to around 30 species of slug.
• A slug can stretch out to 20 times its normal length, enabling it to squeeze through the smallest of openings.
• A slug has approximately 27,000 teeth, thats more teeth than a shark.
• Like sharks, slugs routinely lose and replace their teeth.
• When a slug loses one of its sensory tentacles it grows another, usually within a few months.
• Vinegar is a good ingredient for slug sprays, and for removing slug slime.

Primrose

Absolutely fascinating facts. Thank you. ..Our big brown slugs are venturing out at night again now the heatwave has died. We put a small amount of bird seed on our patio to feed an injured bird who visits us daily and any bird seed residues in the early morning is covered in slug trails so this is a food they are obviously fond of.
i cant being myself to kill them. I tried drowning them in a bucket of water but they invariably eventually succeed in crawling out so now I throw them over the fence into some waste ground full of nettles.

50Twuncle

Primrose wrote: »

Absolutely fascinating facts. Thank you. ..Our big brown slugs are venturing out at night again now the heatwave has died. We put a small amount of bird seed on our patio to feed an injured bird who visits us daily and any bird seed residues in the early morning is covered in slug trails so this is a food they are obviously fond of.
i cant being myself to kill them. I tried drowning them in a bucket of water but they invariably eventually succeed in crawling out so now I throw them over the fence into some waste ground full of nettles.

Sink some containers into the ground and half fill them with beer - the slugs drown happy !!

silverwhistle

50Twuncle wrote: »

Sink some containers into the ground and half fill them with beer - the slugs drown happy !!

Beer traps work well. Take an empty plastic bottle and funnel to your regular pub for free slops! Use empty ricotta containers with slopey plastic sides, or those little ramekin things some desserts come in.



They don't seem keen on the little bits of wine that get left over in the botttom of the wine bottle, so obviously my slugs have no class as we drink decent stuff.:D

Mr.Saver

50Twuncle wrote: »

Sink some containers into the ground and half fill them with beer - the slugs drown happy !!

I use pellets. I often find tons of poisoned snails and slugs everywhere after using pellets. Once or twice a year is sufficient to keep them in control.

Farway

Mr.Saver wrote: »

I use pellets. I often find tons of poisoned snails and slugs everywhere after using pellets. Once or twice a year is sufficient to keep them in control.

Same here, but using pellets is akin to destroying the entire wildlife world to some, bit like using Roundup

Moderation & practicality is the key I think

50Twuncle

Farway wrote: »

Same here, but using pellets is akin to destroying the entire wildlife world to some, bit like using Roundup

Moderation & practicality is the key I think

I do not use pellets - I use hedgehogs !!
Hedgehogs are more environmentally sound as well