I believe nematodes can be a very effective way of control slugs
(previous posts largely agree). However...

After a few applications do the nematodes reproduce? I.e. are there
diminishing returns after, e.g., three applications?

Do nematodes get totally wiped out after winter (British)?

I would be interested to hear if someone had tried a course of
nematodes succesfully one year, and not bothered the next - but noticed
a continued decrease of slugs.

? wrote
I believe nematodes can be a very effective way of control slugs
(previous posts largely agree). However...

After a few applications do the nematodes reproduce? I.e. are there
diminishing returns after, e.g., three applications?

Do nematodes get totally wiped out after winter (British)?

I would be interested to hear if someone had tried a course of
nematodes succesfully one year, and not bothered the next - but noticed
a continued decrease of slugs.


What makes you think they would be effective the first year? They weren't
for me and that's after two applications. I am convinced they are a waste of
money, and that's after using it according to instructions.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 17:40:00 -0000, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

? wrote
I believe nematodes can be a very effective way of control slugs
(previous posts largely agree). However...

After a few applications do the nematodes reproduce? I.e. are there
diminishing returns after, e.g., three applications?

Do nematodes get totally wiped out after winter (British)?

I would be interested to hear if someone had tried a course of
nematodes succesfully one year, and not bothered the next - but noticed
a continued decrease of slugs.


What makes you think they would be effective the first year? They weren't
for me and that's after two applications. I am convinced they are a waste of
money, and that's after using it according to instructions.

I used them last year and they seemed to help but the point is
obviously that we don't know how bad they would have been without
using the nematodes. Was the decrease due to nematodes, weather, bird
predation etc?

A hunt on the web found

http://www.maths.gla.ac.uk/~mab/Bioc...Modelling.html

which suggests that they do work but only reduce populations by about
25 - 30% and require repeated application. Somone else on this group
raised the question of how far do slugs travel. Is it worth spending
all that money for a reduction of 30% if they are only going to be
replaced by slugs from the neighbours garden?

JB

"JB" wrote in reply...
to "Bob

What makes you think they would be effective the first year? They weren't
for me and that's after two applications. I am convinced they are a waste
of
money, and that's after using it according to instructions.

I used them last year and they seemed to help but the point is
obviously that we don't know how bad they would have been without
using the nematodes. Was the decrease due to nematodes, weather, bird
predation etc?

A hunt on the web found

http://www.maths.gla.ac.uk/~mab/Bioc...Modelling.html

which suggests that they do work but only reduce populations by about
25 - 30% and require repeated application. Somone else on this group
raised the question of how far do slugs travel. Is it worth spending
all that money for a reduction of 30% if they are only going to be
replaced by slugs from the neighbours garden?

At about £25 for two applications you have to save a lot of potatoes from
slugs for it to be worth the money.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

'Growing success' have a new wildlife friendly slug-killer. Maybe that
would do the trick. I've got admit the nematodes aren't cheap. We
have cats, hedgehogs (infrequent enough to leave plenty of slugs of
course), plenty of visiting birds and an 8 year old - so the tried and
tested killer pellets are out of the question.

JB,

that link was interesting. My interpretation was that a nematode
programme one year may do enough damage to the slug population that
year to limit egg-laying in subsequent years.

I've yet to find out what percentage of the nematode population
survives over winter, so the effect could be more profound, and the
cost/benefit case for one summer of applications made stronger.

Anoth web site;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/...feature4.shtml

comments that
The worm [nematode] forms a self-perpetuating population in summer
but can be killed by drought and is wiped out by British winters,
and so colonies have to be re-established each year at expense.

but also has an interesting suggestion that;
Biological control experts at Ohio State University in the United
States recommended a more economical method of application,
concentrating localised doses in slug shelters baited with bran,
designed to attract slugs into a killing zone rather than
spreading the parasite thinly over a large area.

elsewhere in the same article there is a comment about slugs foraging
over a range of 12 - 45 square meters. So on one hand you can bait
selected points and attract slugs into there from 2 - 4 meters around
it or on the other hand any treated area less than 2-4 meters from an
untreated area will just be recolonised.

JB

On 22 Feb 2005 04:23:45 -0800, "Kieran23"
wrote:

JB,

that link was interesting. My interpretation was that a nematode
programme one year may do enough damage to the slug population that
year to limit egg-laying in subsequent years.

I've yet to find out what percentage of the nematode population
survives over winter, so the effect could be more profound, and the
cost/benefit case for one summer of applications made stronger.

Interesting idea - if only they weren't so expensive I'd do a general
sweep - and some localised baiting.
I think I might do a little more reading and try to find out if there
is a way of farming your own nematodes (overwintering in the shed). I
have a notion that if it were that simple we'd all be doing it by now.

"JB" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 17:40:00 -0000, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

? wrote
I believe nematodes can be a very effective way of control slugs
(previous posts largely agree). However...

After a few applications do the nematodes reproduce? I.e. are
there
diminishing returns after, e.g., three applications?

Do nematodes get totally wiped out after winter (British)?

I would be interested to hear if someone had tried a course of
nematodes succesfully one year, and not bothered the next - but
noticed
a continued decrease of slugs.


What makes you think they would be effective the first year? They
weren't
for me and that's after two applications. I am convinced they are a
waste of
money, and that's after using it according to instructions.

I used them last year and they seemed to help but the point is
obviously that we don't know how bad they would have been without
using the nematodes. Was the decrease due to nematodes, weather,
bird
predation etc?

A hunt on the web found

http://www.maths.gla.ac.uk/~mab/Bioc...Modelling.html

which suggests that they do work but only reduce populations by
about
25 - 30% and require repeated application.

In what way would my Hostas be improved if I reduced the slug attacks
by 25 -30%?
I don't consider 3 holes per leaf any better than 4 holes per leaf.

Somone else on this group
raised the question of how far do slugs travel. Is it worth spending
all that money for a reduction of 30% if they are only going to be
replaced by slugs from the neighbours garden?

I have never ever seen a report in which the writer was unequivocally
convinced that the use of nematodes was successful in getting rid of
slugs and snails.
In other words, it is somewhat dubious as to whether the use of
nematodes is a good idea.
In fact, to me it sounds like just a piece of expensive organic
gardening boloney.

Franz

"Kieran23" wrote in message
oups.com...

'Growing success' have a new wildlife friendly slug-killer.

I'll wait for euphoric reports before spending money and effort on it.
But that does not douse my curiosity. What does this treatment
consist of?

Maybe that
would do the trick. I've got admit the nematodes aren't cheap. We
have cats, hedgehogs (infrequent enough to leave plenty of slugs of
course), plenty of visiting birds and an 8 year old - so the tried
and
tested killer pellets are out of the question.

Franz

wrote in message
oups.com...
I believe nematodes can be a very effective way of control slugs
(previous posts largely agree). However...

After a few applications do the nematodes reproduce? I.e. are there
diminishing returns after, e.g., three applications?

Do nematodes get totally wiped out after winter (British)?

I would be interested to hear if someone had tried a course of
nematodes succesfully one year, and not bothered the next - but
noticed
a continued decrease of slugs.

I've never understood why nematodes should sate themselves on a dinner
of slugs and snails just to expire after eating 1/4 of the available
meals.
It's high time someone taught them their multiplication tables..

Franz

A simple experiment folks!
1. Invest in one pack of slug nematodes.
2. Collect some slugs.
3. Mix nematodes to the label recomended dilution.
4. Obtain a small propagator and add about 3 cms of moist soil to the base.
5. Place slugs in the propagator with a few lettuce leaves.
6. Drench the slugs and the compost in the nematode solution
7. Close the propagator lid.
8. Observe the slugs on a daily basis
9. Ask for your money back on the nematodes if you are not impressed by the result (or lack of it!)

QED!

how about increasing habitats for slug/snail egg devouring ground beetles eg small peices of slate scattered over the bed ?

also consider growing plants not susceptable to slug/snail damage ?

i once heard the ' slug pellets ' where poisonous to earthworms.

"Eyebright" wrote in
message ...


[snip]

i once heard the ' slug pellets ' where poisonous to earthworms.

Does any urgler have any serious information about this?

Franz

In article , Eyebright
writes

Wrote:
I believe nematodes can be a very effective way of control slugs
(previous posts largely agree).

how about increasing habitats for slug/snail egg devouring ground
beetles eg small peices of slate scattered over the bed ?

That unfortunately also increases the slug/snail sheltering and egg
laying areas ;-)

also consider growing plants not susceptable to slug/snail damage ?

That is a bit limiting. It means not sowing anything straight into the
ground (since the young seedlings of almost anything are susceptible),
and cuts out a large proportion of vegetables.

It's what I do, though.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"