The Spanish slug

[Colin Miles]

Anyone seen these?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/9570862/Slimy-and-savage-the-Spanish-slug.html

[oldherbaceous]

Afternoon Colin, we have a huge number of them here, they have been present for about four years now.

[Parsons Jack]

You don't need many in a sandwich

[Colin Miles]

Hi OH - will have to look out for them when I am next in Clapham.

[JohnN]

That Telegraph piece says they can be up to 10 inches long. Are they serious? I'm just off down the pub, I won't be back!

[The Mouse]

I still haven't totally recovered from encountering a 6-inch long black slug when I was a child, so the thought of those 10-inch monsters is going to give me nightmares!

I have seen quite a few orange slugs around - including one which I picked up, mistaking it for a carrot - but so far nothing quite so horrendous, thank goodness.

Not sure what to make of the article, though - this sentence has left me wondering what exactly counts as "humane" when it comes to dispaching these pests: Experts say hand-picking can be just as effective, killing the slugs humanely by dropping them into a bucket of hot water.

[Nature's Babe]

Not seen one yet, but my ducks might have eaten a few ! khaki campbell and indian runner ducks are excellent predators of slugs - but don't let them near your lettuce !