THE SPOTTED GARDEN SLUG. 5 



The spotted garden slug thrives in dark and damp locations, such 

 as those under old deca} T ing boards and logs, under board walks, in 

 cellars and creameries, along hedgerows, and beneath damp refuse. 



NATURE AND EXTENT OF INJURY. 



The slug injures the plant by gnawing large irregular holes in the 

 leaves or by cutting off the stems, and by leaving after it a trail of 

 sticky mucus on the plants and along the ground. Injury to mush- 

 rooms (fig. 3) is especially severe, the large holes cut by the slug 

 ruining them for the market. Potatoes, both Irish and sweet, when 



FIG. 2. Work of the spotted garden slug on lettuce. 



stored in damp, cool cellars, are also subject to attack. The slug is 

 not content to feed on one tuber until that is entirely destroyed, but 

 will pass from one to another, nibbling small holes in the potatoes 

 near the edge of the pile or container. Celery in the beds during 

 the bleaching process often harbors large numbers, which seriously 

 damage the stems. 



HABITS. 



Soon after emerging from the eggs the young slugs move about 

 in search of food. This consists of such material as is near at hand, 

 since the young do not wander far. They remain four or five weeks 



