By Kelley Tilmon and Andy Michel
Cool, wet conditions have been the perfect weather to favor slug populations. Slugs are able to eat many types of plants, and even in fields that haven’t been sown yet slugs can successfully feed on weeds. Late planting in many areas may cause more slug headaches than usual this year – as slugs get geared up, the small size of both soybean and corn will lead to a greater damage potential from them.
Although we do not know how numerous slugs are in fields, we do know that most crops are being planted later than normal. If you have read our recommendations for slug management, you know that one way a grower can get a head start is to plant early, and get their crop out of the soil and growing before slugs begin their heaviest feeding. However, with the weather conditions over the past month, many fields are just now or even not yet planted. Slugs have been hatching and beginning to grow; this will result in many fields just germinating or emerging when slugs start to feed. This combination of feeding slugs and small plants can result in much more plant injury that normal. Slugs can also damage un-germinated seed. Thus, growers with a history of slug problems who are just now planting into those fields should watch their crops closely over the next few weeks. Although all fields should be scouted, focus on those with a history of these pests, where weed control was less than effective, or with a lot of residue left on the field.
Slugs are nocturnal so you may not catch them in the act of feeding unless you inspect plants after dusk. If you see feeding damage on plants, sift through residue and look under stones in the field. An asphalt shingle laid out on the ground, painted white to keep it cooler, is also a good sampling device. Slugs will collect under it during the day. We do not have research-based thresholds for slugs in field crops. However, if the level of damage concerns you a rescue treatment may be in order. There are few products available, but three of them are Deadline MP, Iron Fist, and Ferrox, which are all baited pellets which must be broadcast and ingested by the slugs.