Abundant Slugs Consuming Vegetation

Observation: In 10 years of gardening and observing vegetation I have never seen so many slugs eating leaves and on the soil. Wet conditions in Aug seemed to significantly number and leaf consumption stressing plants that were influenced. Some plant foliage was over 60% consumed. In most years slugs are rarely seen.

LEO says: According to the University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension, "Slugs are especially numerous during rainy seasons and in well-irrigated gardens. If slugs are abundant one year, it does not mean they will be as common the following season; the relative number of slugs in a given season depends on how moist the growing conditions are." They recommend raking the garden early in the spring to remove slug eggs, and limiting mulch to three inches in height. Limiting mulch height will reduce the available hiding spots for slugs. Some plants may be more naturally resistant to slugs, and can be inter-cropped. Source: University of Minnesota Extension "Slugs in home gardens."

This observation has been added to the project Slug Watch, which houses all slug related LEO observations to help estimate abundance and distribution around the state. LEO has requested assistance with a slug species identification.