Moira wrote:
If you can capture one slug and place it in this container no other bait is
necessary since slugs seem to prefer to dice on their own over other
delicacies in the garden.
Kimm
bRUCE sMITH wrote:
Hi Smitty
I tend myself to go more and more for the no-interference line, but
slugs (and in my garden more often snails) have not yet reached an
equilibrium and I doubt they ever will. They do have a few natural
enemies here, mainly birds, but these don't seem able to keep up with
them unless I help. There are no toads in NZ, and few frogs which would
come into gardens. I don't know if our local firefly larvae would dine
on them, but I have never heard of them coming out of the bush to live
in gardens. Maybe one would find them in very large properties with a
lot of native vegetation.
Anyway, I never put bait in open containers, but use a home-made trap.
One takes a soft drink or other plastic bottle and cuts off the sloping
part of the neck which is then reversed and stuck back in (You can tape
it in position if you like, but it sticks in quite firmly anyway and if
untaped can easily be romoved for cleaning). This makes a trap on the
same principle as a lobster pot where the pests can crawl in easily but
then can't find the way out again. The bait is put in the bottom and the
trap then laid on its side with the open end towards the plant to be
protected. I must say while I have caught a good few snails and some
slugs with this I don't seem to have trapped any beneficials.
Regarding DE. This should I think be used as sparingly as possible and
only in emergency situations, such as you seem to have with your
seedlings and I previously had with mine, as it is said to be dangerous
to worms.
Best wishes
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
Dear Kimm
kasmiller wrote:
> Moira wrote:
.....del...
> If you can capture one slug and place it in this container no other bait is
> necessary since slugs seem to prefer to dice on their own over other
> delicacies in the garden.
Wow!! Thats neat to know!! Would you think that the first few slugs that
enter a beer trap entice others to follow to get them?
After a short time, beer traps with dead slugs get pretty revolting, and
the inclination is to remove the dead slugs. Would you feel that rotting
slugs are an attractant or dispersant to other slugs?
I have heard of a "bug control strategy" where one captures some bugs,
and allows them to decompose, so that in the process, the bacteria that
decompose the bugs can prosper. Then spray other bugs with this mixture
to make them treminally ill. Would such a strategy have a possible
application with slugs?
Thanks for any comments you may have.
Kevin Chisholm
I'm not sure how revolting to us would affect the draw of the slugs, but
have seen that they often will canabalize their own in preference to a juicy
hosta if one is injured.
> I have heard of a "bug control strategy" where one captures some bugs,
> and allows them to decompose, so that in the process, the bacteria that
> decompose the bugs can prosper. Then spray other bugs with this mixture
> to make them treminally ill. Would such a strategy have a possible
> application with slugs?
Nuclear polyhedris virus. Whiz some bugs in the blender (make sure its not
the one you make pudding in) let them steep a few days, and spray the juice
around the garden. Its supposed to pass on any diseases the bugs had to
their bretheren and infect them. Works better if you ask the ones chosen if
they have a communicable disease first though.
Kimm
kasmiller wrote:
This is a very interesting suggestion Kimm. Our slug season doesn't seem
to be under way yet, but as soon as they are around I shall certainly
try it!.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
