Slug Watch

The high numbers of slugs reported during the wet summer of 2012 has prompted the John Innes Centre to sponsor a citizen science project. Slugwatch reports on their website that since 2012 slugs have become the most reported garden pest and the aim of the project is to discover the extent of the infestation of one species in particular. The Spanish slug has recently been identified as a particularly destructive species that can tolerate drier and warmer conditions, has fewer predators and can lay twice as many eggs as native species.

Slugwatch would like gardeners, and the public in general, to send them information about sightings of Spanish slugs so that a better understanding can be developed of how this species will fare in the Northern European climate. The Slugwatch website has identification guides, instructions on how to create slug traps and even slug trumps, for those that like card games. Observations and sightings can be sent via the ‘contact Slugwatch’ link at the bottom of their homepage - www.slugwatch.co.uk