| Slugs are soil-dwelling creatures closely related to
snails, clams, and other members of the phylum
Mollusca. They are not insects, but they do feed on
a wide variety of ornamentals and vegetables. The
succulent tissues of young seedlings and bulbs are
especially susceptible to slug damage.
Groundcovers and hostas found in moist, shady
areas of the garden are also slug favorites.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Slugs have rasping mouth parts and produce holes
in leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits. Sometimes,
whole leaves may be sheared off by slugs. Because
slugs are soft-bodied and require cool, moist
conditions to survive, they avoid the sun during the
day and hide under leaves, rocks, boards, and
overturned pots in the garden. They are nocturnal
and can be found feeding on plants at night or in
the early morning.
Life Cycle
Slugs have soft bodies that are commonly gray, black,
or brown in color. They range from 1/2 to 3 inches in
length. They have a soft bump in the center of their
bodies and eyes at the tips of their small tentacles.
Most slug species overwinter in the soil as eggs. The
eggs hatch in spring and the young begin to feed.
The young look like the adult and increase in size as
the summer progresses. In the fall, eggs are laid in
the ground in protected locations.
Integrated Pest Management Strategies
1. Handpick slugs. In the evening or early morning,
handpick slugs from plants that are being attacked.
2. Use traps. Boards placed on the ground around
plants act as collection sites for slugs. At midday,
collect and dispose of the slugs which are escaping
the mid-day sun on the undersides of the boards.
Shallow pans of beer will also attract slugs. Sink
the pans into the ground so the lip is at ground
level. Empty the pans at least twice a week.
3. Use diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth,
sold as Perma-Guard, is made from the ground
skeletons of small fossilized plants. It has many
sharp edges that lacerate the bodies of slugs,
causing them to dehydrate and die.
Diatomaceous earth is nontoxic, but wear a
particle mask to avoid inhaling the dust.
4. Use chemical pesticides. Granules or baits
containing metaldehyde are effective in
controlling slugs but need to be used with
caution. They cannot be used on vegetables and
should not be used where children or pets may
pick them up or eat them. Placing the bait in a
partially flattened tin can will limit the access
children and pets have to the bait. A less toxic
alternative to metaldehyde is products containing
iron phosphate such as Sluggo® that can be used
safely around pets and wildlife and is labeled for
use in vegetable gardens. | 
