The primary veggie predators this year appear to be slugs, snails, pillbugs (AKA: roly-poly) and their kin, the sowbugs. These critters do perform a vital service by helping to break down organic matter. We really do need them but this year there seems to be an abundance of them, especially the pillbug. They like moist, shady areas during the day and venture out to eat during the night. Pillbugs eat anything a slug or snail will eat. They prefer low growing plants in flowerbeds and gardens.
The most environmentally friendly way to remove slugs, snails and pillbugs is to remove the moist and shady areas. Physical removal of slugs and snails is another option. Trying the physical removal method for the pillbug type creatures is a career choice. Enter Sluggo and Sluggo Plus. Sluggo is granule bait for slugs and snails with an active ingredient of iron phosphate. The pillbugs need different bait and so we have Sluggo Plus. Sluggo Plus is a mixture of iron phosphate and Spinsoad (the bait).
For slug and snail on the synthetic side look for baits that contains metaldehyde. We have a product from the Hi-Yield folks called ………. (wait for it) ………. Slug & Snail Bait.
All of these products work well when you read and follow the label directions. I will go a little off label and say I have had excellent results killing pillbugs with the Hi-Yield product. It is not labeled for pillbugs, but I don’t think the pillbugs know that.
For more information on Sluggo products, please click here.
For more information on Pillbugs, please visit the Texas A&M AgriLife website.
For more information on Slugs and Snails, please visit the Texas A&M AgriLife website here.
