Slugs of the genus Arion (Gastropoda: Arionidae) have been classified as a major economic pest in Europe (Frank, 1998), North America (Hammond et al., 1999), Asia (Ahmadi, 2004), and Australia (Barker, 2002). Slugs are primarily pests of ground crops, such as vegetable and cereals (Port & Port, 1986; Barker, 1991, 2002). They can damage tuber crops, such as potato and cause losses of seeds, seedlings and fruit. Damage to seedlings usually leads to major losses following the death of plants (Barker, 2002).

For the effective management of any pest, a knowledge of its ecology and biology is required. The life of the Arion slug is closely connected to its environment, with temperature and humidity directly affecting biological processes (Barker, 1991). Young & Port (1989) reported that air temperature, soil surface temperature, wind speed, humidity and soil moisture content are all correlated with slug activity. Slugs have a preference for areas of high humidity and the choice of a daytime resting site can be crucial to their survival. Slugs are extremely susceptible to dehydration due to evaporative water loss across their integument and lung surface, and through the deposition of their slime trail (Prior, 1985). Consequently, active slugs can lose up to 40% of their initial body weight in less than 2 hours (Prior & Uglem, 1984; Barker, 2002). Slugs favour heavier soils, being able to survive over summer in cracks in the soil and under clods (Barker, 2002).

Early chemical control has been based on burnt lime, hydrated lime and dehydrated copper sulphate. The chemical control of pest slugs is usually reliant on the application of baits containing a molluscicide. Slugs can be difficult to kill by contact poisons because they are covered by a layer of slime which prevents chemicals from coming in contact with the skin (Hunter & Symonds, 1970; Barker, 2002). Furthermore, growers and farmers often experience difficulty in controlling these pests with conventional bait pellets containing molluscicides, such as methiocarb (this molluscicide is already being withdrawn from use following the recent ban by the European Commission) and metaldehyde. For example, in wet conditions the efficacy of these pellets can be very low (Hata et al., 1997) leading to unsatisfactory control levels. Furthermore, poison baits can be toxic to other non-target soil invertebrates, as well as birds, frogs, and mammals (Martin, 1993; Purvis, 1996). In addition to environmental problems, human health problems also arise from agricultural pesticide usage. Many farmers are seeking new ways to curb pesticide usage to address the many concerns.

The development of alternative slug control methods compatible with integrated pest management (IPM) strategies used to control other pests would help satisfy increasing market demands and environmentally safety issues. In field experiments in organic farming carried out with the nematode biocontrol agent Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, Wilson et al. (1993) concluded that P. hermaphrodita is a promising alternative to chemical molluscicides. Reidenbach et al. (1989) explored the possibilities of using Sciomyzidae (Diptera) as biological control agents for crop pest molluscs with some success. Symondson (1989) reported that carabid beetles reduced slug population by up to 80%. Physical barriers, such as continuous lines of sawdust or ash, provide a dry surface which slugs avoid (Barker, 2002); however, the effectiveness of these barriers is reduced once they become wet. Copper barriers are believed to create an electrical current when they react to snail or slug secretions (Schüder et al., 2003; Laznik et al., 2011).

Environmentally acceptable substances (wood ash, hydrated lime, diatomaceous earth, sawdust) were tested in a laboratory experiment to investigate their application value for controlling slugs. The aim of our investigation was to study: (1) the contact control efficacy of an individual and combined use of tested substances; (2) the barrier effect of tested substances (individual and combined); and (3) an effect on slug eating ability of tested substances (individual and combined).

In recent times, the use of environmentally acceptable substances for pest control in agriculture has gained unprecedented impetus all over the world (Radwan & El-Zemity, 2007; Rojht et al., 2010; Singh et al., 2010). Different natural substances are promoted due to their wide range of ideal properties, such as high target toxicity, low mammalian toxicity, low cost, and easy bio-degradability (Marston & Hostettmann, 1985; Rojht et al., 2010; Singh et al., 2010). In our research we studied both contact efficacy and the so-called barrier efficacy of different environmentally acceptable substances (hydrated lime, wood ash, sawdust, diatomaceous earth) on slugs. A novelty in our research was the study of combinations of different environmentally acceptable substances on mortality rates, feeding rates and effects of barriers on slugs.

The results of our research have shown that hydrated lime had the best contact efficacy on slugs both individually and in combination with other substances (wood ash, diatomaceous earth, sawdust). Slugs were observed producing large amounts of mucus when the animals came into contact with the hydrated lime. Satisfactory contact efficacy was also achieved by applying wood ash. The effect of wood ash is similar to that of hydrated lime, as both substances cause dehydration of cuticle and blocking of airways (Boiteau et al., 2012). Prior (1985) reported that slugs are extremely susceptible to dehydration due to evaporative water loss across their integument and lung surface, and through deposition of their slime trail. It is surprising that diatomaceous earth in our experiment did not prove to be a substance which causes dehydration of slugs. Even more, when we rolled a slug in diatomaceous earth, the slug got rid of the substance with the help of its slime and carried on feeding. Diatomaceous earth, nonetheless, has proved to be an efficient agent by damaging the cuticle and airways of insects (Athanassiou et al., 2005; Rojht et al., 2010; Bohinc et al., 2013). Hydrated lime individually, as well as in combination with other studied substances, proved to be the best barrier against slugs in this study. Ryder & Bowen (1977) reported that the slug foot is an important route for the uptake of different compounds that can cause an irritant effect. This irritation can cause significant dehydration and loss of weight (Prior & Uglem, 1984; Gebauer, 2002). Hydrated lime (individually and in combination with other substances) and wood ash (individually and in combination with diatomaceous earth) were the two studied substances which had the biggest effect on the feeding of slugs. On the basis of our observations we conclude that the tested substances efficiently prevented slugs from crossing the barrier to reach the source of food. The tested substances in the experiment with contact efficacy also caused the highest mortality rate of the studied slugs, which meant that the slugs did not eat.

The underlying principle of integrated slug control is to reduce the risk of slug damage by means of cultural practices, if possible, and apply molluscicides if necessary. Biological control (P. hermaphrodita) has a role to play, together with other techniques that are especially relevant to organic growers (Wilson et al., 1993; Schüder et al., 2003; Laznik et al., 2011). It is important not to attempt to eradicate slugs completely but simply aim to limit damage to economically acceptable levels. This is particularly difficult for growers of crops such as salads, where the tolerance level is effectively zero. A key point in integrated control is that the best control of slug damage in many crops is achieved only when slug control measures are implemented shortly before slug damage is seen (Schüder et al., 2003). Slug control in organic systems presents particular problems because the use of chemicals is greatly restricted. Various methods of slug control are recommended for organic growers, but most are untested and unproven. However, recent research has shown that the use of hydrated lime can be recommended, at least for special situations with high-value crops. Physical barriers such as hydrated lime or wood ash provide a dry surface which slugs avoid (Barker, 2002). The effectiveness of these barriers could be reduced once they become wet. For example, in wet conditions the efficacy of the molluscicide pellets can be very low (Hata et al., 1997). In areas with dry summers (Mediterranean region) the efficacy of such barriers could be more effective. However, there are no published data to support our concern and further investigation in needed.

The relatively small size of the market for molluscicides, combined with stringent testing that new compounds must undergo before approval, means that new molluscicides are only likely to be introduced into the market if a pesticide developed for another purpose shows molluscicidal properties or if low toxicity compounds can be used (Henderson & Triebskorn, 2002). Hydrated lime shows great potential in Arion control in our investigation. Possible field application of tested substances could be reached with the use of hand rotary duster/hand dusting around the plants. However, further research is needed to investigate the practical value (how to avoid the problem when the substance becomes wet), safety and economics of hydrated lime used in this way. Nonetheless, the use of hydrated lime could be suitable for private gardens as well as for large crop growing areas.