Slugs and Snails

animal

Various (Gastropoda)

Soft-bodied mollusks that feed at night, leaving slime trails. Major pest of seedlings and leafy crops.

Identification

Slime trails on plants and soil. Irregular holes in leaves with smooth edges. Feeding at night; hide in moist spots during day.

Large irregular holes in leaves. Slime trails. Seedlings consumed overnight. Hollowed-out strawberries.

Iron phosphate bait (Sluggo). Beer traps. Copper barriers. Hand-pick at night. Diatomaceous earth (dry conditions only).

Metaldehyde bait (toxic to pets and wildlife -- use iron phosphate instead). Methiocarb.

Water in morning so surface dries by evening. Remove hiding spots. Rough mulch (wood chips vs straw). Encourage birds, toads, ground beetles.

Data confidence: medium | Source: curated_ipm