About Target and Damage Control Links
About Snails and Slugs
There are many species of mollusks that cover a wide range of colors and sizes. What they have in common is they thrive in shady, moist conditions. Whereas snails have shells and slugs do not therein ends thier differences for the most part. Both garden pests excrete a mucus upon which they glide. These are the telltale signs of slugs and snails - the silvery trail they leave behind.
Both slugs and snails feed at night and in cooler overcast conditions. Slugs burrow as do some snails. You can often find these pests hiding under boards or in debris.
All slugs and snails have both male and female sex organs and lay clusters of tiny eggs in the soil. Depending on food and moisture the path to maturity can take anywhere from several months to several years.
Pest Target and Damage
Slugs and snails both target literally all plant growth. They do not seem to show a preference for a particular type of plant material.
Damage is usually noted as large holes in leaves, often ragged in shape. Seedlings tend to experience complete demolishment.
Control
Handpicking is the most common form of control. Trapping is another method and a common way of doing this is by simply setting out bowls of beer where the rim of the bowl is at ground level and the bottom of the bowl is buried. Copper acts as a deterrant and barriers made of copper are used by some.
Simple tilling can destroy eggs.
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