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Slugs and Slaters (No. 2)

For all those who queried what a slater is I have looked up my pest 
books and found out that slaters are also called Woodlice, Pillbugs or 
Sowbugs - they are dark grey oval 'animals' about 1cm long 'distinctly 
segmented' with many legs and they curl up into a ball if disturbed. 
They are land based crustaceans and have gills. Apparently there are a 
number of different species - and I am not sure whether the ones I have 
are imported or native - they certainly have a wide distribution and can 
be found around all parts of Victoria. 

In my previous garden (about 70km from where I am now) (clay soil) they 
were present - but not in the plague proportions that I have at McCrae 
where the soil is sandy. 

The Collins Guide to Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Garden Plants by 
Stefan Buczacki and Keith Harris suggests using HCH (whatever that is?) 
or Carbaryl Dust (don't know much about this either - but apparently 
moderately persistent - and I am not keen on using pesticides - I even 
feel uncomfortable about using pyrethrum although I do!).

Another book that I looked at suggested pyrethrum mixed with eucalyptus 
- you can buy it here premixed in a pump pack and I was wondering if I 
could further dilute it (with water)and water it into the soil with a 
watering can to stop the blighters eating my Iris roots and rhizomes??

Any other suggestions or comments??

PS - I am very proud of my continuing 'saucers of beer' efforts - I got 
another 41 slugs last night - my husband cannot believe the enjoyment 
and satisfaction I am deriving - he thinks that counting the 'kill' is 
in extremely poor taste - I just cannot believe how long it has taken me 
to actually try it! All those years of growing tatty Hostas 
unnecessarily!

Susan George
McCrae, Victoria, Australia

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