Drilled and germinating seedlings are particularly at risk from slugs that are able to feed under the soil surface.

Wheat is the one crop that is most likely to be damaged at the seed stage. The characteristic seed hollowing of a slug attack is caused by the slug seeking out the embryo and endosperm. Up to 50 wheat seeds can be attacked by a solitary slug during the first week after drilling.

It’s not only the seeds that they attack - young developing foliage is particularly attractive to slugs – shredding being the most obvious sign. Grazing damage to cereal seedlings is rarely disastrous; plants will usually recover after treatment with snail bait pellets. A special note however regarding the small conical snail that can embed itself in the kernel and will continue grazing and causing permanent crop damage.

Use SLUGPRO to assess populations. Once the level of risk and required dosage is established, include recommended bait of either SLUGGEM®, SLUGGIT® or SLUGGER® snail bait pellets during seed drilling. A second dose of slug bait pellets a few days after the seedlings emerge would be additionally effective.

Continue to monitor the crop via SLUGPRO after applications and make follow up applications if necessary. Continue snail monitoring even if numbers are low, as numbers can increase rapidly over a short period.

An even distribution is important to ensure targeted species come into contact with pellets as soon as possible. Calibrate your equipment accurately. Cultural Control practices can help reduce your pellet requirement.