Slugs (again)

[Richard III]

Looks like I am going to have to put a little slug food out on a patch of wheat. I thought the dry weather would stop the activity, but it seems to be getting worse! This picture was taken at 10am this morning, he was obviously late to bed. I've never seen damage quite like it, it is in small circles about 1 ft round, every 4 or 5 ft. Previous crop was spring beans and the soil type is a light silty loam.

From a slug I.D. chart, it looks like a spanish slug to me, but slug identification is not my strong suit.

http://www.slugwatch.co.uk/?portfolio=spanish-slug

@Dan Powell

 

[Dan Powell]

Argh. Kill them at once. Don't let any escape. I don't want them as well as the grey ones. Definitely time to start a free range duck business, Richard. #stackedenterprises

 

[shakerator]

Looks like I am going to have to put a little slug food out on a patch of wheat. I thought the dry weather would stop the activity, but it seems to be getting worse! This picture was taken at 10am this morning, he was obviously late to bed. I've never seen damage quite like it, it is in small circles about 1 ft round, every 4 or 5 ft. Previous crop was spring beans and the soil type is a light silty loam.

View attachment 500406
From a slug I.D. chart, it looks like a spanish slug to me, but slug identification is not my strong suit.

http://www.slugwatch.co.uk/?portfolio=spanish-slug

@Dan Powell

jeez!

 

[Breakthru]

Looks like I am going to have to put a little slug food out on a patch of wheat. I thought the dry weather would stop the activity, but it seems to be getting worse! This picture was taken at 10am this morning, he was obviously late to bed. I've never seen damage quite like it, it is in small circles about 1 ft round, every 4 or 5 ft. Previous crop was spring beans and the soil type is a light silty loam.

View attachment 500406
From a slug I.D. chart, it looks like a spanish slug to me, but slug identification is not my strong suit.

http://www.slugwatch.co.uk/?portfolio=spanish-slug

jeez!

Thought they were not supposed to be a cereal problem but maybe they liked the bean trash (quite woody).
They are resistant to metaldehyde so don't waste your money.
Can eat up to 20 slux pellets supposedly and there is talk about interbreeding with our own slugs.
Had Breakthru on trial in Norwich and it did stop them.
Just in the process of trialling new water conditioner softener for hard water areas with high bicarb carb contents that neutralise its effects.

 

[Richard III]

Thought they were not supposed to be a cereal problem but maybe they liked the bean trash (quite woody).
They are resistant to metaldehyde so don't waste your money.
Can eat up to 20 slux pellets supposedly and there is talk about interbreeding with our own slugs.

I think you've just spoiled my easter.

A question about Breakthru, is it contact only, or does it contain some sort of a sticker to give longer activity?

I do tend to see a lot of slugs on the ears of a wheat crop in an evening, but they don't seem to do any crop damage at this time.

 

[Breakthru]

I think you've just spoiled my easter.

A question about Breakthru, is it contact only, or does it contain some sort of a sticker to give longer activity?

I do tend to see a lot of slugs on the ears of a wheat crop in an evening, but they don't seem to do any crop damage at this time.

Has contact action if you spray at dusk when there is most activity.
I use Anchor to stick it to foliage which prevents grazing. It is a mixture of sulphates and so is soluble and will wash off or through the soil profile in the absence of Anchor or a n other sticker.
You seem to be getting damage from your picture and so I would tend to have a go at them as you also don't want that type of infestation to get any bigger.
I advise spraying at this time of year prior to GS37 where there are large numbers especially if following with OSR.
Have had very successful results pre harvest along with Glyphosate on WW and WOSR but the proviso is if we have a drought mid summer (remember them) then activity will be low so not such good contact action.
Last two years wet July /Aug has been followed by dry harvest conditions which has meant the Anchor or Pod Sealant has kept the Breakthru on the chopped straw and forced remaining slugs deep where they cause no damage.
Those conditions where straw is mixed also create conditions which are not ideal for them and so they lay less eggs, or so we estimate.
We use Breakthru pre em as well but with the problems encountered with high carb/bicarb water areas I also assume that soil lockup will occur in those areas.
In saying that Spalding area client uses it on potatoes (3 years) very successfully and without any added conditioner to the water, maybe his water company softens the water?