Slug
Description
- Adult: Slimy, soft-bodied, gray or mottled, legless mollusk.
- Larvae: Like adults but smaller.
- Eggs: Clusters of eight to 60 clear jellylike eggs laid on the ground in sheltered areas.
Timing of damage: VE to V8
Type of damage: Ragged holes in leaves or leaves that appear shredded, starting with the lower plant. Look for silvery slime trails on leaves or ground; this is a telltale sign of slugs.
Scouting: Examine 20 plants in five separate locations. Note the number of damaged plants and estimate the percentage of defoliation.
Economic threshold: None established but treatment may be warranted if leaves are severely defoliated, the field has a grayish cast and the stand is threatened.