Slugs and snails

Slugs and snails are terrestrial gastropod mollusks belonging to the classes Arionidae and Helicidae. These soft-bodied pests are nocturnal creatures that thrive in moist, humid environments, making them particularly problematic during rainy seasons or in irrigated vegetable gardens where they find both food and shelter under debris.

These pests are polyphagous, meaning they feed on a wide variety of plant material. They are notorious for devastating young seedlings, leafy greens like lettuce and cabbage, strawberries, and root vegetables. Their feeding activity is most intense during damp nights, when they emerge from their daytime hiding places in the soil or under organic mulch.

The biological cycle of these mollusks is heavily influenced by moisture and soil temperature. They are hermaphrodites, and each individual can lay hundreds of eggs throughout the season in damp soil crevices. Their ability to remain dormant in the soil during unfavorable conditions ensures the survival of the population even after harsh winters or dry spells.

Damage caused by slugs and snails is characterized by large, irregular holes in leaves, often consuming entire seedlings overnight. They also scrape the surface of fruits and tubers, leaving disfiguring wounds. Their mucus trails not only signal their presence but also leave a substrate that can promote the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi on the produce.

Integrated pest management strategies are essential for controlling these mollusks:

• Keep the garden tidy by removing weeds and heaps of organic waste that serve as hiding spots.
• Create physical barriers using crushed eggshells, coarse sand, or diatomaceous earth around sensitive plants.
• Set up traps, such as sunken containers filled with beer or fermented liquids, to capture and dispose of them.
• Apply environmentally friendly molluscicides, such as those based on iron phosphate, which target the pests while posing less risk to pets and wildlife.