AusBonsai

Hi gang....

I just got home and went to check up on my trees....

I found a big fat 'feild slug' or perhaps 'leopard slug' rolling around on the top soil layer of one of my trees...

Now i just read other posts about how to get rid of them - all good - but what i want to know is how the hell they got there!! I check my trees everyday and dont have a huge amount-basically as i dont have too many i can afford time to check each one well everyday..plus i live on a small balcony high up....

Im pretty sure they may have come from the two trees i just purchased almost a week ago...but why did they just turn up now? Does the rain have anything to do with it? Now...they new tree had one small slug and three of my regular ones had the bigger slugs...both on seperate sides of the balcony and some trees were just by passed...are they fussy eaters or something?

What id really like to know is how do i stop bringing in strange foreign pests into my place..do slugs lay eggs i can loom out for? When you buy a tree what percations do you take to make sure it does not disrupt the harmony of your bonsai eco system...

Now its dark n cold and i looked at all my trees...from a total of 24...4 trees had slugs and i threw off my balconu around 5 slugs...does this sort of pest spread quick n take a strong hold?

Thanks guys

Mate I really wouldn't worry about slugs.

They tend to come out in the rain, god only knows where they hide in the mean time.

I remember purchasing a couple Juni's a while back and between the inner foliage I found several slugs and a wasp too!

Just inspect your trees prior to placing them with the rest of your trees and if you see slugs or wasps or a gorilla just place them in the grass or somewhere.

Also, slugs can climb anything moist... not likely but they might be coming up the gutter or hiding under or inside the balcony.

Regards,

-Mo

These guys may have come on your new trees but more likely they are just wandering around at night and find a nice, new place to call home so they stay. It is surprising how far they can move in a short time, even up the wall to your balcony. Random visiting slugs have probably been there before but did not find a suitable habitat and moved on before you noticed them. Now you have provided shelter, moisture, etc so they are stopping for a little longer so you are noticing them? I have not noticed slugs causing damage to my grown trees but they can have an impact on small seedlings.

The best method to eradication is eat them They are not much different to a Snail and the French love them!!
After collecting "Do Not Wash" The slime will help the bread crumbs to stick.

Let me know how they taste Billa

Booga wrote:The best method to eradication is eat them They are not much different to a Snail and the French love them!!
After collecting "Do Not Wash" The slime will help the bread crumbs to stick.
Let me know how they taste Billa

WARNING READ THIS !!!

http://www.news.com.au/national-old/man ... 5866012092

shibui wrote:These guys may have come on your new trees but more likely they are just wandering around at night and find a nice, new place to call home so they stay. It is surprising how far they can move in a short time, even up the wall to your balcony. Random visiting slugs have probably been there before but did not find a suitable habitat and moved on before you noticed them. Now you have provided shelter, moisture, etc so they are stopping for a little longer so you are noticing them? I have not noticed slugs causing damage to my grown trees but they can have an impact on small seedlings.

Thank you Shibui,

Thanks for letting me know that that will not harm my adult plants...my seedlings will have to be moved but I just got worried as they all turned up out of no where....

Booga wrote:The best method to eradication is eat them They are not much different to a Snail and the French love them!!
After collecting "Do Not Wash" The slime will help the bread crumbs to stick.

Let me know how they taste Billa

Heya Booga...

um...errr...maybe not lol

Il leave the 'boogas' and slugs to you lol

anttal63 wrote:

Booga wrote:The best method to eradication is eat them They are not much different to a Snail and the French love them!!
After collecting "Do Not Wash" The slime will help the bread crumbs to stick.
Let me know how they taste Billa

WARNING READ THIS !!!

http://www.news.com.au/national-old/man ... 5866012092

Ant!!!!! I swear your the best!!

As always Ant to the rescue….I was getting ideas with Boogas post but now after your detective work…I certainly DO NOT want to get rat lung worm lol

What the hell!!!! That’s a good dare if I ever seen any!! lol

Maybe that guy got hospitalised coz he washed the slime and did not put enough breadcrums? Lol

Cooking will get rid of the rat lung worm & the breadcrumbs will give a nice crispy coating

Seriously tho, slugs can do alot of damage to more than just seedlings, new growth is particularly favored & I have seen trees defoliated in a night, my mentors Magnolia denudata most recently... Once growth hardens off they usually wont bother with it....

Im glad you didn't take my advice Billa. That bloke must have a strong gut to even contemplate it

Booga wrote:Im glad you didn't take my advice Billa. That bloke must have a strong gut to even contemplate it

LOL although tempting as it may be...would be a bit too chewy in my opinion lol How the French discovered that they were a tasty morsel, is way beyond me!!!