Quick and effective pest control - pepper slugs: how to spot and get rid of the problem

Each gardener invests not only strength, but also his soul in growing crops. It is all the more offensive when all efforts go to dust because of the appearance of pests. Land molluscs or slugs can completely destroy crops in just a few days.

What to do if slugs appear on the pepper, how to rid the site of mollusks with chemicals, folk remedies and agrotechnical methods without harm to the crop - you will learn all the most important about pest control methods from our article.

Signs of pepper slug damage

Science distinguishes between several types of slugs. Molluscs prefer to eat garden crops with large, juicy tops... Summer residents complain that pests eat not only leaves, but also fruits.

You can determine the presence of a pest on the site by the appearance of small holes or cuts on the leaves of plants. Also, white mucus remains on the tops after the movement of slugs.

Slugs are nocturnal, so daytime searches are meaningless.

Harm done

Molluscs gnaw large holes on bell pepper leaves, which disrupts plant photosynthesis, inhibits vegetable development and negatively affects yields. In addition, slugs are the cause of the development of powdery mildew, as well as other fungal diseases and rot.

Important! Pests can infect plants outdoors, in greenhouses and greenhouses.

In conditions of high humidity, the mollusk population grows rapidly. Slugs can destroy an entire crop in a matter of days.

Reasons for the appearance

Molluscs prefer to settle in areas with abundantly moist soil. In such an environment, there is usually a lot of vegetation where it is convenient to hide from the sun's rays.

Slugs do not have a protective shell; their lifespan largely depends on the environment. Favorable conditions for them are high humidity and air temperature from + 15 ° С to + 19 ° С.

Most often, the pest penetrates into open beds, moving from infected wild plants. When mulching plantings with freshly cut grass, be careful - there is a risk of bringing pests to the beds.

Factors provoking the appearance of slugs in the greenhouse:

• air humidity over 80%;
• irregular ventilation;
• excessive watering;
• thickening of landings.

How to deal with slugs on bushes

How to process the beds? Before deciding on pest control methods, assess the damage and the number of shellfish. If there are few of them on the site, it is appropriate to remove slugs with agrotechnical methods.

If, along with the appearance of pests, plants are infected with diseases, it is worth using folk remedies. Chemicals are used to kill large populations of slugs.

Slugs cannot tolerate heat, drought and direct sunlight.

Chemicals

Metaldehyde-based preparations are effective against slugs:

• "Storm";
• "Slime Eater";
• Ferramol;
• "Meta".

The chemicals attract pests and then destroy them. The drugs have a low level of toxicity; their use will not harm the environment and insects. However, the funds are not recommended for use during the fruiting period.

Also in getting rid of slugs use "Superphosphate". The drug is applied to the bushes, as if dusting them. For 1 sq. m. 30-40 mg is enough.

Important! Observe safety precautions when working with insecticides: wear a face shield, gloves and goggles.

For the destruction of land molluscs, preparations based on copper are suitable - copper sulfate and Bordeaux liquid.

Traditional methods

How to remove slugs from the site with safe and natural substances?

For years, gardeners have developed pest control strategies. We bring to your attention the most effective of them:

1. White vinegar solution- 0.5 cups per 10 liters of water. Used to spray the plant and the soil underneath. The time of the procedure is evening.
2. Hot water. Mulch is poured with water at a temperature of + 40 ° C. Pests are afraid of high temperatures, the result will be achieved even when using water at + 30 ° C.
3. Hot spices: pepper, dried garlic. The substances are scattered between the rows, having previously formed shafts 5 cm high.
4. Coffee - 2 tsp dissolve in 250 ml of water. The solution is used for spraying. You can use coffee grounds - the slurry is poured into the aisles.
5. Corn flour... Plants are powdered with it.
6. Tobacco dust. Plants and the intervals between the beds are treated with the tool. A mixture of tobacco and ash is sprayed over the beds several times a day, then take a break for five days.
7. Infusions of garlic or hot pepper... Grind 100 g of an ingredient and dilute in 1 water. The concentrate is infused for a day, then diluted with 4 liters of water. The solution is used to spray the beds.
8. Mulching with nettles or other dried aromatic herbs.
9. Mustard powder - Add 150 g of product to 10 l of water and sprinkle with pepper.
10. Film. The plants are covered overnight with a film material. Slugs will gather under it, and during the day they will die due to the increased temperature.

Often on garden forums they give advice to treat the soil with salt. However, experts do not recommend using this method to get rid of pests, since salting the soil has a negative effect on plants.

Biological

How to get rid of slugs without using drugs? Their natural enemies - shellfish-eating animals - will help. These include hedgehogs, gray and green toads.

Agrotechnical techniques

The most efficient way is to collect pests by hand. Slugs are nocturnal, so special traps or baits are used to catch them. For example, kvass or beer is poured into a cut plastic bottle or any other container.

Beer can also be used in the evening to sprinkle or water the soil. In the early morning, all that remains is to collect the pests by hand and destroy them.

After collecting the slugs, the beds should be loosened to extract the larvae. Usually they are not deeper than 3 cm.To be completely sure of the collection of all pests, it is enough to loosen the soil to a depth of 7 cm.

As soon as all the mollusks are removed, watering is stopped for one week, and the soil and plants are powdered with wood ash.

You can ward off pests with herbs. Mint, lemon balm, wormwood and tansy are planted along the perimeter of the site, and parsley is planted in the aisles. Garlic, rosemary, sage, and thyme are also effective.

Stops the spread of slugs sprinkled between the rows: crushed eggshells, pine needles, shells, nutshells or small pebbles. These materials damage the delicate body of the pests.

Council. Experienced gardeners dig small ditches in the aisles, which are covered with quicklime and wood ash. These materials impede the movement of gastropods.

Features of the fight in greenhouses

Slug control is combined with preventive treatment of plants against diseases. At the first signs of disease use the drug "Fundazol". It is mixed with wood ash and sprinkled with peppers.

Manufacturers produce special means for dealing with slugs: flexible plastic bands and copper rings.These methods are used during the fruiting period, when treatment with chemicals and folk remedies is undesirable.

In the open field

More methods are available to eliminate pests in open areas. Some people prefer not to kill slugs (since they are useful as natural orderlies), but to restrict their movement.

Protect peppers from shellfish tops of plants laid out in the aisles, which slugs love... In such places, pests will accumulate, which will simplify their collection.

Also construct bait-traps made of rags, pieces of plywood and boards... Slugs love hiding places like this. If you put them in the evening and pour them over with beer, in the morning a large number of gastropods will accumulate there.

Preventive measures

To prevent the appearance of slugs on the site, conditions are created that are uncomfortable for them.

Prevention:

• regular inspection of plants;
• maintaining the cleanliness of the beds - promptly remove plant residues and other debris;
• the use of materials that impede the advancement of slugs;
• installation of traps made of rags, cardboard and burdocks;
• observance of the intervals between plants;
• high arrangement of beds - the formation of small embankments;
• removal of standing water from the site;
• regular weed removal;
• digging a garden at the beginning and end of the season to a depth of 20 cm;
• loosening the site after each precipitation and watering;
• pre-sowing treatment with copper sulfate;
• ash introduction 1-2 times a season;
• moderate watering.

Read also:

Pests of tomatoes in the greenhouse and methods of dealing with them.

Why is black aphid on cucumbers dangerous and how to deal with a pest.

Pests of sweet pepper and the fight against them.

Conclusion

Slugs are common both in open areas and in greenhouse conditions. Some gardeners do not see anything wrong with their living, as they are useful. But when it comes to the safety of the crop, chemical preparations, folk methods and agricultural techniques are used.

When eliminating gastropods, remember that often their vital activity leads to the development of diseases, so pest control should be combined with preventive treatment of the beds.