Effect of copper hydroxide on slug feeding

• Published in: Journal of environmental horticulture 2005-12, Vol.23 (4), p.167-170
• Main Authors: Thompson, J.M, Sibley, J.L, Foshee, W.G. III, Keever, G.J, Appel, A.G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antifeedants; application rate; copper hydroxide; Deroceras; Deroceras laeve; feeding behavior; Lactuca sativa; Lehmannia valentiana; lettuce; Limacidae; plant pests; slugs
• ISSN: 0738-2898; 2573-5586
• DOI: 10.24266/0738-2898-23.4.167

Kocide® 2000 (53.8% copper hydroxide) and Kocide® 4.5 LF (37.5% copper hydroxide) were examined for their effectiveness at reducing slug feeding using rates found on the Kocide® label. The marsh slug, Deroceras laeve (Müller), was given a choice among two untreated lettuce leaf plugs, one untreated leaf plug and one leaf plug treated with Kocide® 2000 at the rate of 4600 ppm Cu(OH)2 (3.0 tbsp/gal), and one untreated leaf plug and one leaf plug treated with Kocide® 2000 at the rate of 9200 ppm Cu(OH)2 (6.0 tbsp/gal). In a follow-up trial, D. laeve were exposed to Kocide® 4.5 LF at rates of 3100 ppm Cu(OH)2 (1.33 pt/A) and 6200 ppm Cu(OH)2 (2.66 pt/A). A second species, the three-banded slug, Lehmannia valentiana (Férussac), was presented with one untreated lettuce leaf plug and three treated leaf plugs using Kocide® 2000 at the rates of 3100, 6300, and 9400 ppm Cu(OH)2 (2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 tbsp/gal). In each study, D. laeve and L. valentiana showed a preference for the untreated lettuce, indicating that Kocide® 2000 and Kocide® 4.5 LF effectively reduce feeding in these common pest species.