EN
An increase in slug spread, intensive occurrence and injuriousness have been observed in Poland in the last few years. The slugs cause serious damages in field crops in greenhouses in vegetable store- and warehouses. The highest losses occur as a result of slug feeding on sprouting cereals and on seedlings of vegetables, leguminous and oil-seed rape plants as well as on potato tubers. These animals develop best on heavy clayey or humus-rich soils, on improperly managed and loam soils. Mild winters, high air humidity and soil moisture in the spring and autumn seasons, a dense vegetation cover of soil as well as the application of green manures and ploughing in the stubbles provide the favourable conditions for development of slugs. Seven species out of slugs occurring in Poland may be referred to dangerous plant pests. The most important of them are Deroceras reticulatum - a pest of field crops, chiefly vegetables, oil-rape seed and cereals, and Deroceras laeve damaging ornamental plants and vegetables grown under cover. Another dangerous pests in field crops, particularly in vegetables, are Arion rufus and Arion lusitanicus. These slugs sometimes cause hard losses ravaging both, cultivated and wild-growing plants. In warehouses and in farm product stores, significant damages are caused by Lehmannia valentiana, Limax flavus and Limax maximus. L. maximus frequently attacks also plants grown in gardens. In the case of mass occurrence of slugs it is necessary to control them. Their high numbers can be limited by an integrated application of hygienico-agrotechnical measures and chemical protection methods. A basis of desired results of pest control is a proper forecasting of pest occurrence and timing of protective treatment application against it.