Thanks for the OSU link, Susan!
I see I was wrong or partly wrong about slugs mostly laying eggs in the fall.
This OSU fact sheet says "mostly spring and early summer" in one place, then in another place says 30-40 days after mating, which seemed to me to add up to laying eggs in Sept. through mid-November.
??
Anyway, I try to reduce their numbers
before they each lay dozens of eggs.
And then wipe out any egg masses I find.
And squirt or stomp any I see scampering slowly around my beds.
I guess I'll continue to avoid thick layers of mulch. Up to now, I was just being cheap, but now I read in the OSU fact sheet that a 3" layer of mulch may keep the soil surface SO moist that it is good for slugs. One inch of mulch is probably better where there are many slugs.
The OSU fact sheet also taught me NOT to mulch with weed remains or fresh grass clippings! Slugs thrive under wilted or decaying greens. Compost them instead.
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Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet - - Entomology
Slugs and Their Management - - HYG-2010-95
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fa...
"most of the eggs are laid in the
spring and early summer."
"During periods of particularly warm and wet climatic conditions, the rate at which the slugs develop may allow for eggs to be laid in
mid-summer, thus making possible a second generation"
"
Mating usually takes place from August until mid-October and eggs can be laid from 30 to 40 days after a successful mating. "
<<That last quote suggests to me that eggs are laid in Sept through mid-November, then hatch after several weeks of warm weather.>>
Slug eggs might take as many as 100 days to hatch at 32-42 F.
Or they can hatch in as few as 10-21 days at higher temperatures.
