Giant slug invasion leaves a growing profits trail
EXTREME weather is good news for sales of products from fans and ice-creams to umbrellas and wellies – and some businesses are even profiting from an increase in bugs and an invasion of larger-thanaverage slugs.
With Britain’s warm weather combined with regular downpours creating the perfect breeding conditions for slugs, sales of non-lethal deterrents including Slug Gone and Grazers G2 are up nearly 50 per cent on 2013, according to The Organic Gardening Catalogue, a supplier to organic gardeners.
It says this is the largest recorded rise in this type of slug control product in its history.
Managing director Michael Hedges said: ‘This year’s extraordinary weather of intermittent heavy rainfall and warm temperatures has created the perfect conditions for slugs to thrive.
‘Our non-lethal slug deterrents, barriers and traps have always sold well, but this year the rise was too significant to overlook.
‘We are also advising customers on best practice dealing with these pests.
‘Killing slugs is not always the right answer as they have an important place in the ecosystem. Some feed only on decaying material and some even eat other slugs.’
Judith Conroy of the charity Garden Organic said: ‘The rainy spells have helped slugs move around more easily and they have been troublesome to vulnerable crops like direct sown parsnips and French beans.
‘As with other pests and diseases, we are always keen to explore resistant crops, so as part of our experiments this year we are growing a variety of lettuce that is reputed to be less attractive to slugs.’
Earlier this year John Hirst, chief executive of the Met Office, argued that companies should make better use of weather intelligence and embrace the weather for competitive advantage rather than using it as an excuse.