How to trap a slug: Commercial versus homemade slug traps

Abstract

The Iberian Slug, Arion lusitanicus Mabille (Stylomatophora: Arionidae), has developed into a destructive pest in Swedish gardens and orchards over the past 10–20 years. Many attempts to eradicate this pest have been made using a variety of different methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of two different types of homemade traps made from simple, inexpensive materials (plastic PET bottle or an ice-cream box) compared to one type of commercially sold trap (Slugtrap ® IT-PAC AB, Sweden) used with bait and beer as attractants. Experiments were carried out on a private property outside Lund, Sweden, over a period of 7 days. The results showed that a homemade trap, i.e. a box trap, can be as efficient as a commercial trap, particularly due to their similar design. In contrast, the homemade bottle trap was not very successful. Additionally, it was discovered that the bait used in the commercial traps did not increase the number of slugs trapped. It was concluded that the beer was the main slug attractant. Ultimately this study suggests a low-cost alternative for small scale to the rather expensive commercially sold traps.