Slugs were a key focus of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Landcare Workshop held at the Rupanyup Community Centre last Thursday.
IPM Technologies’ entomologist Paul Horne and Jessica Page answered a plethora of slug related questions from farmers, advisors and Landcare group members at the audience-led event.
“Monitoring,” Paul said “is the first step. It is important to know if you have slugs and what type. Different species surface at different times. Once the species is known, a strategy can then be developed to target the slug present most effectively. It is important however to continue to monitor as new species may appear as weeks pass.”
IPM Technologies has published a slug guide which attendees received to help identify slugs and differentiate between species. Attendees were also able to see close-up live specimens and gain hands on experience identifying each slug species.
Attendees also heard how the adoption of IPM practices can help delay and prevent the emergence of chemical resistance among target insect species and how adopting IPM practices can reduce the potential impacts of insecticides on non-target insects and animals. In doing so, landowners can boost the beneficial insects in-crop which can help control the insect pest they are seeking to control.
With the EU banning certain insecticides and the prospect of import bans from these countries into the future, as well as the potential for these insecticides to be banned here, the conversation between presenters and attendees was hopeful, interactive, engaging and insightful.
