Gastropod
Channel: Allan Hill
Date: 2019-04-28

GASTROPOD

What is it about this member of the phylum Mollusca that ignites our scorn and keeps us up at night wondering what damage they are doing to our healthy plants and vegetables? 

This soft-bodied invertebrate is usually found in mulch beds, under boards, rocks and stones survive on plants, fungi, and decaying organic matter 

As there are many possible ways available in keeping this pest temporarily at bay such as Vinegar and water solutions, Salt, Crushed Eggshells, Marigolds, Beer, Cayenne solutions and board traps there is yet one final solution that just may be your answer to finally getting a good nights rest. 

With 'Stomachs in their feet,' which is a literal translation of the word Gastropod, these slimy ground-dwelling mollusks share a human fear of electricity. When one comes in contact with an electrical current it knocks them through a loop just as a sudden and proportional jolt would do to you and me. 

Even though you may not have experienced a total eradication of slugs from previous efforts this project if properly installed will finally turn the tide of the battle and could easily become part of your arsenal of your garden pest control. About now you may be asking: "Well that's great for the slugs outside of the raised bed. What about the ones already in the beds under the soil?" 

Recently we came across another organically-minded solution that does not entail using harsh and dangerous toxins in your garden. This video will guide you through the basics of building a successful electrified Slug fence for raised garden beds as demonstrated in this video. 

Also for your Garden Beds Nematodes are microscopic living creatures that can be found in your garden soil. The Beneficial Nematodes are an organic gardeners dream because they are hungry predators that feed on the larva of some of our nastiest garden pest. When you release this beneficial allie, they lay and wait in the soil for the larva of crane fly, fleas, root weevils, grubs, cutworms, borers, gnats, and a wide range of other pests. 

The good news is that they leave hard working worms alone and they don't harm birds, pets, or humans. You can have all the benefits of theses Nematodes in your garden and by following a few key steps, you'll guarantee bug killing success. 

Read more: How to Use Beneficial Nematodes in Your Garden. | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2262035_use-b... Nemaslug: (currently not available in the USA) 

There is also a predatory nematode, Phasmarhabditas hermaphrodita, that is effective against slugs. They are being mass-reared apparently in England but are not yet sufficient in production to be used widely. They are watered onto the soil and will kill slugs for up to six weeks. The water and nematodes leach down into the soil where 90 percent of slug populations live. It is this underground population of slugs that the nematodes attack and kill. 

The nematodes should be applied anytime between April and October when the temperatures are milder for the best control. Soil must be kept on the moist side for the nematodes to live. These nematodes kept in a sealed bag and refrigerated will last up to two weeks. You can do an initial treatment, then retreat with the remaining stored nematodes for two additional weeks. This would give you two months of control from one batch.