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Re: Slug control with copper strips

>Ronald Dailey wrote:

>> when it touched one of its antennae to the tubing, it withdrew and
>> tried a different direction.  That suggests to me that a slug will
>> get a shock from just touching the copper.  All this isn't very
>> scientific, of course <g>.
>
>For conductivity therefor a shock to accure you must have two poles
>(electrodes) to generate electricity.  One of the poles must be what he
>was crawling on.  For earth to act as a conductor it must be wet and be
>slightly acid.  I theroize that if a zink conductor was added next to
>the copper conductor that he would get 3 to 4 times the shock and the
>earth would not have to be wet.  Just theory. Never tried it.  I use
>beer traps.  They love to drowned their self in the hops.
>--

I also found information on beer traps (at a University of Illinois
site) which suggested that beer traps are not very effective.  In any
case, the use of copper intrigued me. Incidentally, the slug that I
observed in my copper corral was not on a wet surface, but on dry
concrete--dry except for the secretion the slug made while moving.
Apparently, it doesn't take much wetness or direct contact with earth
to induce some sort of shock and it doesn't require another metallic
conductor, either.  The mystery deepens, but electricity is a mystery
anyway.  On the other hand, I am beginning to wonder whether this is
an electric shock or a chemical reaction between the secretions of
the slug and copper (of course that could be electro-chemical).

--
  |Ronald Dailey  *  San Bernardino, CA  * rcdailey@deltanet.com|
  |Inland Computer Users * <I><C><U> * BBS:(909)381-0882 * 8-N-1|
  |Standard Disclaimer:  I speak and write for myself, alone.   |
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