Terrestrial Slugs

In recent years slugs have become increasingly important, partly because several species are agricultural and horticultural pests and partly because theyhave proved to be useful experimental animals, particularly in the field of neurophysiology. Most of the early works which included slugs were essentially taxonomic but the book byTaylor (1902-1907) contained a great deal of biological information about slugs, some of which is still relevant today. The publication of the book by Runham and Hunter (1970) represented a milestone in slug research, providing a comprehensive survey of current knowledge about slugs. The book by Godan (1983) on snailsand slugswas mainly concerned with theeconomic importanceof theseanimals. The purpose of the present book is to present a review of current knowledgeofthebiologyandecologyofslugs, togetherwith theirstatusand control as pests. Although relatively little is known about the biology and ecology of tropical slugs and most information is taken from work on European slugs, the European pest species have become widely distributed throughout temperate regions and this book should be of interest world wide. It is written as a source of information for people seeking to control slug pests and, also, for those wishing to use slugs for research or teaching purposes. The book is intended particularly to provide a starting point for those beginning research on slugs and an extensive bibliography has been provided.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 1.1 Classification of slugs.- 1.2 Survey of slug families.- 1.3 History of the British slug fauna.- 1.4 Slugs of the British Isles.- 2. Structure.- 2.1 External features.- 2.2 Internal anatomy.- 2.3 Integument.- 2.4 Locomotion.- 2.5 Shell.- 3. Feeding, digestion and metabolism.- 3.1 Feeding and digestion.- 3.2 Energy metabolism.- 3.3 Carbohydrate metabolism.- 3.4 Lipid metabolism.- 3.5 Calcium metabolism.- 3.6 Nitrogen metabolism.- 4. Vascular system, water relations and nitrogenous excretion.- 4.1 Vascular system.- 4.2 Water relations.- 4.3 Nitrogenous excretion.- 5. Reproduction.- 5.1 Reproductive tract.- 5.2 Spermatogenesis, oogenesis and fertilization.- 5.3 Egg.- 5.4 Mating and egg laying.- 5.5 Control of reproduction.- 5.6 Genetics.- 6. Nervous system, sensory structures and neurosecretion.- 6.1 Nervous system.- 6.2 Sensory structures.- 6.3 Endocrinology.- 6.4 Control of water balance.- 6.5 Control of locomotion.- 6.6 Control of reproduction.- 6.7 Control of feeding.- 6.8 Cardioregulation.- 7. Behaviour.- 7.1 Feeding behavior.- 7.2 Chemoreception.- 7.3 Agonistic and dispersive behavior.- 7.4 Locomotor activity.- 8. Life cycles.- 8.1 Development of the egg.- 8.2 Postembryonic development.- 8.3 Life spans and life tables.- 8.4 Field studies.- 9. Predators, parasites and disease.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Predators.- 9.3 Parasites.- 9.4 Disease.- 9.5 Abnormalities and injuries.- 10. Ecology.- 10.1 Estimation of populations.- 10.2 Slug populations.- 10.3 Communities.- 10.4 Production and energy flow.- 10.5 Conservation.- 10.6 Pollution.- 11. Slugs as pests.- 11.1 Slugs and man.- 11.2 Slug damage in Great Britain.- 11.3 Slug damage in Europe.- 11.4 Slug damage in North America.- 11.5 Slug damage in other countries.- 12. Control of slug pests.- 12.1 History of chemical control.- 12.2 Recent developments in slug control by chemicals.- 12.3 Metaldehyde.- 12.4 Methiocarb.- 12.5 Application of molluscicides.- 12.6 Efficiency of metaldehyde and methiocarb.- 12.7 Environmental effects of molluscicides.- 12.8 Other methods of control.- A.1 Culture methods.- A.2 Anaesthetizing, narcotizing and preserving slugs.- References.