Slugs regulate their own population.
The slimy trail left by slugs and snails contains a certain
substance which is washed into the soil by rain and
inhibits the hatching of their eggs.
As the population dwindles perhaps from predators or
poisons or just old age the slime is diluted and more
hatch out until the population is restored to optimum
Can't win can we ?
Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:53:10 +0100, sam wrote
(in message <WbydnUCKfJeV4QDZRVnyjw [at] brightview.com>):
> The slimy trail left by slugs and snails contains a certain
> substance which is washed into the soil by rain and
> inhibits the hatching of their eggs.
> As the population dwindles perhaps from predators or
> poisons or just old age the slime is diluted and more
> hatch out until the population is restored to optimum
> Can't win can we ?
We could if we could replicate that slime and use it ourselves. On the garden
I mean, of course....
--
VX (remove alcohol for email)
Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
VX wrote:
> On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:53:10 +0100, sam wrote
> (in message <WbydnUCKfJeV4QDZRVnyjw [at] brightview.com>):
>
>> The slimy trail left by slugs and snails contains a certain
>> substance which is washed into the soil by rain and
>> inhibits the hatching of their eggs.
>> As the population dwindles perhaps from predators or
>> poisons or just old age the slime is diluted and more
>> hatch out until the population is restored to optimum
>> Can't win can we ?
>
> We could if we could replicate that slime and use it ourselves. On
> the garden I mean, of course....
If we used it on ourselves it would have the same effect ie stop us
breeding!
pk
Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
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Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
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Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
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Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
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Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
The Invalid wrote:
> On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:53:10 +0100, sam <sam [at] profit.ot> wrote:
>
> >The slimy trail left by slugs and snails contains a certain
> >substance which is washed into the soil by rain and
> >inhibits the hatching of their eggs.
> >As the population dwindles perhaps from predators or
> >poisons or just old age the slime is diluted and more
> >hatch out until the population is restored to optimum
> >Can't win can we ?
>
> Yes Get some chickens
I wish. I've thrown slugs to chickens with no detectable ill effect on
the slugs. I believe they will eat a few now and then, but that
wouldn't make up for the mass destruction the chooks themselves cause
if they're allowed to forage in a garden.
--
Mike.
Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
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Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
The Invalid wrote:
> On 25 Jun 2006 05:10:26 -0700, "Mike Lyle" <mike_lyle_uk [at] yahoo.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >The Invalid wrote:
[...]
> >> Yes Get some chickens
> >
> >I wish. I've thrown slugs to chickens with no detectable ill effect on
> >the slugs. I believe they will eat a few now and then, but that
> >wouldn't make up for the mass destruction the chooks themselves cause
> >if they're allowed to forage in a garden.
>
> No that's quite wrong.
> In the Autumn and winter the chickens will eat as many slugs and
> snails as they can find. They will also grub out their eggs too.
[...]
Is that right? Interesting: I didn't know it depended on the time of
year, but it seems logical: I don't suppose I shall ever keep chickens
again, but I'd like to try that.
--
Mike.
Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
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Re: Slugs regulate their own population.
"Malcolm" <Malcolm [at] indaal.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:vYKRyCXvd+nEFwWM [at] indaal.demon.co.uk...
>
> In article <WbydnUCKfJeV4QDZRVnyjw [at] brightview.com>, sam <sam [at] profit.ot>
> writes
> >The slimy trail left by slugs and snails contains a certain
> >substance which is washed into the soil by rain and
> >inhibits the hatching of their eggs.
> >As the population dwindles perhaps from predators or
> >poisons or just old age the slime is diluted and more
> >hatch out until the population is restored to optimum
> >Can't win can we ?
>
> This is new to me. Where did you get this information from?
>
Just imagine - something which could presumably be synthesised and watered
onto soils to prevent hatching of slugs and snails at times when the crop
would be vulnerable to the little blighters.
Someone could make a fortune :-)
