Slugs in Gardens: Their Numbers, Activities and Distribution. Part 2

Abstract

Very little of the food of slugs consists of plant material grown for human use when other food is available. Mating in Agriolimax reticulatus and Arion subfuscus occurs on the open ground surface after dark; the former species mates to some extent throughout the yr., whereas the latter sp. mates only from July to Oct.; in both spp. mating is at its peak after the seasonal peaks of greatest activity. Arion hortensis and ater usually mate under such shelter as dead leaves. Slugs reach their greatest seasonal wt. when the peak of mating occurs. The distribution of the spp. varies markedly from garden to garden and this difference persisted during the 2 yrs. of study. Each sp. tends to have its own regular curve of nightly activity. All spp. are fully active at 40[degree] F, and some activity continues down almost to freezing. Activity is also limited by lack of surface moisture.