SNAIL CONTROL

   This article is about SNAIL control.
It will explain why they are a pest and what
needs to be done for controlling infestations.
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   Snails and slugs can become a nuisance around the
home and garden.  They can destroy plants, mess
up surfaces with their slimy trails and ruin a relaxing
evening on the porch by crawling around!  This
article will describe what these creatures do to
be considered a pest and then I will detail how
you can control them.
   Both snails and slugs can be a problem around
the garden.  Snails feed on succulent plants and will
eat pansies as fast as you plant them.  Snails feed
on plants by crawling out onto the leaf and eating
from the middle out.  This type of damage is easy
to identify as most leaf eating insects eat around
the edges first.  Slug damage occurs in the evening
as they are nocturnal.  To know if they are respon-
sible for damage to your plants, I suggest going
out with a flashlight just after dark to catch 
them in the act.  Of course, their unsightly slime
trails is a sure way to know you have slugs.  If 
they are feeding on your plants, you should be 
able to see these trails where they are moving.
Slugs will hide during the day.  Dark, shady areas
are where you might find them if you are looking
for nest sights.  These include under rocks, decks,
wood timbers such as railroad ties, mulch and
where concrete meets grass.  Slugs are prolific.
They are unique in that they have both male 
and female sex organs.  Known as a hermaphrodites,
slugs can mate with themselves.  This ability
enables them to populate a good nesting area
even if only one makes it there to start!
   Since slugs seem to be drawn to moisture,
watering gardens and yards can attract them.  
Crawl spaces are prone to having them as it provides
dark and moist nest sights. Decks, poolside cabinets
and any area around the home will provide ample
housing during the light of day. At night, they will 
forage out into the yard for food. As slow as they
tend to travel, it is not unusual for slugs to
migrate 30-50 feet each night in search for food. The
most common pattern of behavior they will follow
is to first identify a food supply. Next, they will
situate themselves as close to the food as they can 
yet still be both protected from the elements as well
as the light. Once they have found such locations,
they will come out each evening as the sun goes down
and migrate to the food for both meals and mating. One
favorite location for slugs is around any type
of cement block, garden lumber, fence or simple
dividers which are placed in the yard to provide
a barrier between a flower bed and grass.
   In most parts of the United States, slugs have two
breeding seasons - spring and fall.  Expect to see big
populations at these times.  To control slugs, you 
have a few options.  Treatment and products to treat
with will vary depending on the location of the problem.
Products which came out many years ago were strictly
a bait in the form of pellets. These products were
effective but posed a hazard to none target animals
like dogs and cats. This was mainly because the
pellets were visible and tasty to animals. If you
insist on using such a product, we carry them. However,
there are many new options which are both safer
to use and more effective. Here are your options.
   First, if you insist on using no chemical at all,
install some of our SLUG TRAPS. These fit in well with
any garden environment and be made to look discreet.
Most importantly, they work. Regardless of which model
you choose, they need to be buried in the ground
and their entrance holes need to be at soil level.
The SLUG BAIT is easily detectable by them and will
attract slugs through these entrance holes. The
skinny trap has two entrances; the larger trap has
16 entrances. Try to place at least one trap for 
every 100 sq/ft of area you want to protect. The 
more installed the better.  Inspect them every
few days and be sure to empty them once you get
5-10 slugs. Renew the Slug Bait at that time
as well. These traps will work year round and
will substantially reduce any infestation.
   The next safest method of treatment is the use of a
SLUG ELECTRIC FENCE. This is very effective and won't
pose a threat to people or pets. It's powered by
a 9 volt battery which sends a mild (non detectable
by people or pets) through the light metal mesh
fencing which slugs can't stand. They will avoid
going over the fence and look for food elsewhere.
The Slug Fence comes with 24 feet of 3.5 inch
wide fencing, 5 stakes and 1 Power Stake. The
stakes need to be pushed in the ground about
an inch and placed around the area you wish
to protect. The fence installs by sliding it 
over small fasteners which are on the side of
each stake. Be sure to surround any flowers or
other plants you wish to protect. This basic
kit can protect up to 32 sq/ft (if you were to
place it around an area measuring 8 feet long
by 4 feet wide). But the fencing can be in 
any shape limited only to your need. And if you
have a larger area needing protection, get the
SLUG FENCE EXTENSION ONLY which is another 24
feet of fencing with 4 more stakes. The Power
Stake in the basic kit will be strong enough to
power all 48 feet of fencing. Normal battery life
is 6-9 months when used on 24 feet; 3-6 months
when used on 48 feet. Take the Slug Fence down
during the off season to keep it in good working
condition. The Slug Fence is a real help at keeping
slugs away without the need of having to keep 
applying something over and over. In the end, a
properly installed fence can really save time.
   The third option available is the use of a liquid
almost paste like material which slugs cannot touch. 
It looks like a grey mud and is called DEADLINE.  
It is very easy to apply and you can use it
one or two ways.  You can either squirt out a circle
pattern around the plant or draw a line between where
slugs are coming from and where you don’t want them
getting to.  This approach will keep them out because
the active ingredient in Deadline will cause the slug
to loose its water if they cross it.  Slugs can feel this
effect and will not attempt to go over treated surfaces -
no matter how good the food is on the other side.
Although rain will break down treatments, Deadline
works so well that trace amounts will keep slugs
out of garden areas. 
   The fourth approach is the more conventional use of
baits. We have the standard SLUG PELLET which has
probably killed more slugs over the years than all
the newer ones combined. However, these pellets do
pose a hazard to non-target animals like dogs because
they are quite large and easy to find. The other
problem is that they use attractants which non-target
animals like to eat. This means they pose a hazard
and you must be careful if you have a pet which
has access to areas where the pellets will be
used. This product in particular is the main reason
why all slug products are believed to be such
a danger to use. The original products were all
pelletized and most certainly were a problem when
used in gardens, yards and areas where pets were
active. The pellets were both visible and attractive
to non-target animals. When found they were readily
consumed which lead to many poisonings. If this is 
a concern, use some of the NON-METALDEHYDE SLUG BAIT.
It won't hurt pets or children and it works quite
well. You can also opt for one of the other methods
listed above as they work well too.The newer
formulations, such as the spray and the mud, have
effectively reduced these hazards because applications
are invisible and not attractive to non-target animals.
For this reason you can use them or some of the new
bait without worry. Of course, trapping is always 
recommended and is by far the safest method of control. 
But if you need a fast knockdown due to the damage 
of the slugs feeding, use the spray for quick knockdown.
Followup with traps and bait for long term control. 

   Slugs and snails can be a problem around the
home and yard. Set out some Slug Traps to start
reducing their numbers and the damage they do. Use a
Slug Fence for repelling them from your garden if you 
want something more permanent and long lasting. Another
repellent like Deadline might do the job for small 
infestations and the old standby, Slug Bait, will 
almost always help to reduce their numbers.  Make 
sure to do regular inspections around the property to 
insure they don't reinfest any time soon and treat 
early to prevent further damage from these plant 
eating pests!!!

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for slug control.  Look through our on line catalog which
features products for just about any pest you may have
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E-Mail me at Jonathan@bugspray.com


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