Re: Slugs and Slaters (No. 2)

Susan George wrote:
> 
> Yes - this is the first garden in which I have known them to be a
> problem - I always thought that they only ate decomposing (not live)
> matter. But late night garden visits with a torch has proved otherwise.
> A few months ago I planted some viola seedlings and couldn't work out
> why they were being decimated - thought it was slugs but no it was
> slaters!! A friend who lives close by is continually experiencing slater
> house invasions (she is on a concrete slab with a continuous surface on
> to the terrace) so she is vacuuming them up. As my house is on stumps I
> don't seem to have that problem at least.
> 
> And 3 feet long is a horrible horrible thought - imagine being
> 'arachnidphobic' as well as 'crustaceanphobic'!!
> 
Hi Susan 
I have only had one experience of slaters misbehaving and this was early
one spring many years ago, at a time when I was not averse to using a
few fairly drastic remedies. I had some punnets of seedlings outdoors
under a protective sheet of plastic and I kept on finding the plants
decapitated and at first suspected slugs/snails, but baiting for them
produced no result. I desperation I then lightly dusted the soil with
Diazinon (told you I wasn't fussy then) and the next day the culprits
were all lying round with their little feet in the air..

If you actually prefer an organic approach to control I really don't
have a "respectible" way of dealing with them  except perhaps to set up
traps for them like one can for earwigs. Perhaps a flowerpot filled with
crumpled paper laid nearby might attract them, and I have heard of
people having success with a hollowed out potato or apple. Even a board
(slightly raised on a pebble at one end) or a few odd bricks might seem
a good daytime hiding place. it is then, of course, necessary to dispose
of them and I leave that to your imagination!

If you happen to keep chooks they would, I'm sure, be delighted to help.
We had a bantam cock many years ago for whom a nice feed of live slaters
was the greatest treat.

Moira

-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand
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