Slug: An emerging menace in agriculture: A review

Abstract

Most of the terrestrial slugs are potential threat to agriculture across the globe. Their highly adaptive nature helps them to survive in both temperate and tropical climates which is one of the major reasons of its abundant species diversity. It is not only a severe problem in different seedlings of nursery and orchards, also a worry factor for the seeds of legumes sown in furrows. The whitish slimy mucus generated by this pest makes the flower and vegetables unfit for sale. However, despite of its euryphagic nature, very few works have been carried out on slug morphology, biology, ecology, taxonomy and its management in India. This review article tries to integrate the information of economically important slug species of the world as well as India, their bio-ecology, nature of damage, favorable factors with special emphasis on eco-friendly management tactics of this particular gastropod pest.