Fighting slugs and snails on potato plantings

Relevanse. The article presents information about actively spreading potential pests of agricultural crops in the Central region of the Russian Federation – slugs and snails – invertebrates belonging to the genus of gastropods. The harmfulness of these pests is manifested in a decrease in the size of the crop, a decrease in its quality, loss of marketability and fruit keeping. The most seriously affected in this regard are the planting of cabbage, lettuce, peas, turnips, potatoes and cucumbers. Snails and slugs can serve as a source of infectious diseases, various fungal spores, bacteria and parasitic helminths are often carried with the mucus produced by their bodies, which often pose a threat to the health of people and pets.

Methods. Visual surveys were carried out to determine the number of pests in the field and in the adjacent territory in the conditions of the Moscow region (Lyubertsy city district). The studies were conducted in accordance with officially approved methods. Data on the species composition of pests are analyzed. The possibility of active harmful activity and potential threat of gastropods in a changing climate and their adaptation in the conditions of the Central region of the Russian Federation is considered.

Results. According to the results of the conducted research, it was found that in vegetable gardens and private farms, grape snail and arable slug are most often found, in potato plantings – field (arable slug). Recommendations on slug and snail control in the private sector and farms are given.

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