Slugs in conservation tillage corn and soybeans in the eastern corn belt

Slug problems have increased in frequency as conservation tillage has becom e a more widely adapted practice for production of corn, Zea mays (L.), and soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, in the Midwest. Because of the increasi ng concern about slug damage to these crops, we initiated studies to aid gr owers in management of this serious pest. Slug populations were sampled in conservation-tillage fields in seven counties in Ohio from 1994-1996 to det ermine the species that were present in field crops and to gain insights in to their life histories and damage potential. Four slug species were collec ted in numbers sufficient to be considered of potential economic importance . The predominant species in population size and geographic range were Dero ceras reticulatum (Muller), followed closely by D. leave (Muller). Both spe cies were common in most fields. The third most numerous slug species was A rion subfuscus (Drapamaud). Although this species was found in fewer fields , it was often collected in very large numbers. The fourth slug. A. fasciat us (Nilsson), was found only in two counties. We observed juvenile D. retic ulatum causing the most damage by their feeding in late-May and in June. Da mage caused by the other species was not as evident, with the possible exce ption of A. subfuscus causing stand loss in soybeans.