Monitoring

Why Monitor?

  • Determine how well a control measure works

  • Identify areas in a field with large slug populations

  • Assign risks in the field to ‘hot spot’ areas to treat differently

  • Obtain a relative idea of population size and slug life stage

  • Broadly predict spring populations by knowing fall slug abundance and subsequent winter environmental conditions

  • Support an economic injury level to guide slug management decisions and prevent economic loss-currently not available

  • Monitor ground beetle populations, a natural control of slugs

  • Sample for nightcrawlers that can remove bait pellets and pull seedlings into their tunnels. However, nightcrawlers also have many benefits (e.g., improves physical structure of soil, soil aeration, soil fertility, water absorption)

Can't fall asleep? Count slugs!