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This slug can protect your plants.

Slimy creatures that feast on young plants and lettuce are a major threat for gardeners; however, not all slugs are harmful. The tiger slug, in particular, can be advantageous.

SymClub
May 12, 2024
1 min read
NewsNatureNatural sciencesSnailEveryday questions-nature-and-scienceGarden
Tiger snails are useful for your garden
Tiger snails are useful for your garden

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Useful tool featuring an effective design - This slug can protect your plants.

If you come across a slug in your garden that has an impressive cat-like pattern, you can take pride in its presence. This slug species acts as a natural predator for lettuce-eating pests. In addition to dead vegetation, mushrooms, slug eggs, and other slugs, tiger slugs also eat their own offspring.

The environmental protection organization Nabu advises against human control of this particular snail species. Although not considered endangered, tiger slugs are in the Red List and are less commonly found in gardens than their slimy relatives.

When you spot one of these creatures, especially at night, it will be difficult to miss them due to their striking appearance; tiger slugs can grow up to 20 centimeters long and feature black spots.

Does the tiger slug actually help with getting rid of other slugs?

Nevertheless, experts are skeptical about using tiger slugs to control snail populations. Dr. Heike Reise from the Senckenberg Institute in Görlitz is a slug expert who spoke to MDR. She said, "Tiger slugs never have a high population density and are mostly herbivores." Their impact on the snail population in your garden isn't significant.

This is partly due to the fact that tiger slugs reproduce more slowly than other species. They mate only once a year and don't reach sexual maturity until after 1.5 years.

So, what can you do to get rid of the snails?

But beware! The tiger slug might be hiding there as well - and should be allowed to remain in the garden.

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Source: symclub.org

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