Spanish slugs overwhelm Moscow region gardens

Gardeners in the Moscow region are struggling against a surge of Spanish slugs that are devouring plants and making soil difficult to work. The invasive mollusks, also known as Iberian slugs, have become a major nuisance this summer.

Local gardener Elena Dil described the frustration, saying the slugs keep multiplying and that she and others have grown tired of the problem. She noted that in her area, they have resorted to paving the ground with stones because it has become impossible to manage the soil.

The Spanish slug is native to the Iberian Peninsula but has spread across Europe, often through the transport of plants, soil, and garden materials. In the Moscow region, the species has found a favorable environment.

Vladimir Chub, Director of the Botanic Garden at Moscow State University, explained that far from its native habitat, the slug loses its natural enemies. With few predators, a suitable climate, and abundant food, the slugs have established a strong presence.

This year's rainy and cool weather has further boosted their numbers, creating ideal conditions for reproduction. Scientists say complete eradication is no longer possible, so the focus has shifted to population control.

Chub recommends a combination of methods in agricultural areas, including poisoned bait, manual collection, and slug traps. He emphasized the need to reduce their numbers by any means necessary.

Beyond conventional tactics, some gardeners are trying unconventional approaches, such as keeping domestic geese or hedgehogs, which are natural predators of slugs.