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Spanish Slug

In the end of the summer 2008 the Spanish slug was found for the first time in Estonia in gardens in the town Pärnu. After the discovery caused great attention in the media, reports of Spanish slug also came from Tallin. The slugs have most probably been imported involuntarily by arboretums and gardening centres. There have been no additional reports of this species, and as far as the Ministry of environment knows all the Spanish slugs found have been eradicated.

The main reason behind problematic invasions of gardens by the Spanish slug is that it is adapted to a dry climate, where most eggs will dry out before hatching. The slug lays hundreds of eggs so that at least some may hatch. In the less dry regions of Northern Europe and Britain, the constraints of drought do not limit reproduction to the same degree. The species is also gregarious, allowing for mass occurrences. Like all pulmonate snails and slugs, it is a hermaphrodite , meaning that one single slug can start an infestation. Poor control of exported produce may also be a cause, as the main route for the slugs to spread is through careless handling of imported produce from Spain and Portugal.

Natural enemies of Spanish slug
A natural garden with hedges and hiding places for birds, hedgehogs and shrews helps to encourage these natural predators. Blackbirds, starlings and magpies have a big appetite for snails but they have a tough time with the large grey slugs. Hedgehogs kill slugs by rolling over them with their spikes. The problem with Spanish slugs is that they taste quite bitter to hedgehogs. Slugs are also eaten by shrews, moles and toads. Birds and insects which eat slug’s eggs too are particularly helpful. Such insects include ground beetles and their larvae and centipedes.

Coffee against Spanish slug
Scientist has found out that (liquid) coffee can help to protect your plants against Spanish slugs. It should be sprayed on the plants and/or directly on the slugs. It is not yet quite clear how the coffee kills the slugs. Most likely it's the caffeine it contains which works as a nerve poison. It is certainly worth trying. The only problem is that heavy rain can dilute the coffee or wash it away.

Breeding of Spanish slugs
Slugs are hermaphrodites (there is no male or female). In other words, all slugs can lay eggs and some of them lay up to 800 eggs a year. The eggs look like little white pearls and the slugs hide them under stones, sods of grass and other protected and moist places. The eggs hatch quite quickly in summer. Eggs laid in autumn normally survive the winter to hatch the next spring. All slugs need a moist corner to hide in. In the day time, they hide in crevices in the earth and underneath moss, loose stones, paving stones or planks etc. and unfortunately in compost heaps too. Slugs also like to lay their eggs in compost.