Seed treatments containing an insecticide can protect the seed from moderate infestations of seedcorn maggots. Early planting, use of good quality seed and any other factors which encourage fast emergence will also reduce the likelihood of damage from this insect. They are mollusks, related to snails and clams. They feed on the lower leaves of plants, particularly in the tender areas between the veins. This causes the damaged leaves to look split or shredded.
Slugs feed at night, and are often difficult to find during the day.
The slugs may be found resting in moist areas under stones, lumps of soil or crop residues. Slug damage Slugs die if they dry out. Therefore, they usually reach damaging numbers only during periods of prolonged wet weather or where abundant crop residue keeps the soil surface moist. Damage occurs most commonly following a forage or plowdown crop, especially in fields that were spring-plowed. Because of the crop residues on the soil surface, slugs may also be more prevalent in fields where minimum tillage systems are used.