Kay,

I think you might have to be specific about what "the common garden slug" is
and where you are living since life cycles vary with species and with
climate. Further, different species of slug will have different feeding
preferences.

As a gross over-generalization large slugs tend to breed in the autumn and
smaller slugs breed a number of times through the year (spring  to autumn).
Killing them before they breed is a good idea!

I grow Hostas. I also, inadvertently, grow slugs and the former are
relatively undamaged by the latter. I take no special measures against them.


Tony Cook


Dr. A. Cook
Assistant Director, (Project Development),
Educational Development Unit
L029
University of Ulster
Coleraine
028 7032 4453



-----Original Message-----
From:   Kathryn Goguen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   12 September 2000 13:15
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Garden slugs

Hi,  I was wondering if anyone knows the life cycle of the common garden
slug and when is the opportune time to kill it.  I am in a hosta group and
slugs are the bane of the hosta world.  There are commercial preparations
but most have to be applied repeatedly through the season.  There are also
alternatives of Slug lures, baits, and traps, but none eradicates the
problem.  I suppose there is no simple answer but thought someone out there
might know. Thanks, Kay