Skip to main content
Log in

The potential of carabid beetles to control slugs in grass/clover swards

  • Published:
Entomophaga Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Experiments conducted in sward boxes under controlled conditions showed that the carabid beetlesAbax parallelepipedus (Piller & Mitterpacher) andPterostichus madidus F. controlled slugs in a grass/clover sward. Control was shown to be as good as that by the molluscicide, methiocarb.A. parallelepipedus proved to be more successful thanP. madidus at controlling the slugs, damage to the clover being kept to a minimum.P. madidus controlled the slugs only after some damage to the clover was sustained.

Résumé

Des expériences menées en conditions contrôlées dans des boîtes carrées semées de trèfle ou de ray grass ont montré que les CarabesAbax parallelepipedus (Piller & Mitterpacher) etPterostichus madidus F. limitent les populations de limaces dans les champs de trèfle et de ray grass. La limitation par ces carabes se révèle aussi bonne que celle obtenue avec le molluscicide methiocarb.A. parallelepipedus semble plus efficace queP. madidus dans ce rôle, les dégâts sur le trèfle étant maintenus à un minimum.P. madidus ne limite les limaces qu'une fois le trèfle déjà attaqué.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asteraki, E. J., Hanks, C. B. &Clements, R. O. — 1992. The impact of two insecticides on predatory ground beetles (Carabidae) in newly-sown grass. —Ann. Appl. Biol., 120, 25–39.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiverton, P. A. — 1982. The effects of polyphagous predators on the establishment phase of Bird-Cherry Oat Aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) infestations in spring barley. —Vaxtskyddsrapporter, Jordbruk 20, 177–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clements, R. O., Asteraki, E. J. & Jackson, C. — 1988. A method to study the effects of chlorpyrifos on predatory ground beetles in grassland. —BCPC Mono. 40 Environmental, Effects of Pesticides (M. P. Greaves, B. D. Smith & P. W. Greig-Smith eds.), 167–174.

  • Edwards, C. A. & George, K. S. — 1981. Carabid beetles as predators of cereal aphids. —Proc. 1981 BCPC Conference, Pests and Diseases, 191–199.

  • Glen, D. M. — 1989. Understanding and predicting slug problems in cereals. —BCPC Mono. 41 Slugs and Snails in World Agriculture (I. Henderson, ed.), 253–262.

  • Greenslade, P. J. M. — 1964. The distribution, dispersal and size of a population ofNebria brevicollis (F.), with comparative studies on three other Carabidae. —J. Anim. Ecol., 33, 311–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindroth, C. H. — 1974. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects: Coleoptera Carabidae. —Royal Entomological Society of London, 4, 70–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, T. J. &Kelly, J. R. — 1986. The effect of changing agriculture on slugs as pests of cereals. —Proc. Brighton Crop Protection Conference, Pests and Diseases, 2, 411–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mowat, D. J. &Shakeel, M. A. — 1989. The effect of different cultivars of clover on numbers of, and leaf damage by, some invertebrate species. —Gr. For. Sci., 44, 11–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollard, E. — 1968. Hedges IV. A comparison between the carabidae of a hedge and field site and those of a woodland glade. —J. Appl. Ecol., 5, 649–657.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reidenbach, J. M., Vala, J. C. & Ghamizi, M. — 1989. The slugkillingSciomyzidae (Diptera): potential agents in the biological control of crop pest molluscs. —BCPC Mono. 41 Slugs and Snails in World Agriculture (I. Henderson ed.), 273–280.

  • Sotherton, N. W. — 1989. Farming practices to reduce the exposure of non-target invertebrates to pesticides. In: Pesticides and Non-target Invertebrates, (P. C. Jepson ed.) —Intercept, Dorset, 195–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Symondson, W. O. C. — 1989. Biological control of slugs by carabids. —BCPC Mono. 41 Slugs and Snails in World Agriculture (I. Henderson ed.), 295–300.

  • Symondson, W. O. C. — 1993. Chemical confinement of slugs: an alternative to electric fences. —J. Mollusc. Stud. (in press).

  • Tod, M. E. — 1973. Notes on beetle predators of molluscs. —The Entomologist, 106, 196–201.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Asteraki, E.J. The potential of carabid beetles to control slugs in grass/clover swards. Entomophaga 38, 193–198 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02372553

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02372553

Key-words

Navigation