On April 15, a working meeting was held in the Oat township to discuss Vilnius University updated by scientists in 2024 an invasive slug control plan to combat the invasive slug (Lusitanian arion) population that threatens the local ecosystem.
Attended the meeting Vilnius district representatives of the local economy department of the municipal administration, Avižienii borough, the State Forest Office and UAB "Naikinta", which won the public tender and committed to exterminating slugs.
"This year, the Municipality is intensively starting the destruction of invasive slugs, which are common in the Bukiškii settlement of the Avižienii borough. After completion in 2023 corrections of the prepared plan, this year a contract was signed with UAB "Naikinta" regarding the implementation of the actions provided for in the plan. We hope for a very good result. The work to destroy invasive slugs will take place only on state land, which means that the residents themselves will have to do a lot of homework, managing their living environment according to the recommendations," said Miroslav Romanovski, head of the Local Economy Department, about the work to be started to combat slugs that damage the ecosystem.
Left open compost piles, moist places are the most favorable conditions for the breeding of invasive slugs, so it is important to organize the said area.
We draw the attention of the residents that after collecting slugs in their yard, they should not throw them alive over the fence, because this way their population is expanded. Collected slugs and/or snails must be destroyed, preferably by adding salt.
We ask residents to adhere to these recommendations.
We note that residents can deliver green waste to the green waste collection sites of the Vilnius County Waste Management Center.
UAB "Juknevičiaus kompostas" (Liepkalnio st. 172, Vilnius) also accepts green waste from residents.
Briefly about the expected measures:
Ginforming residents about the invasive species, ways of regulating its abundance, opportunities to participate in more efficient regulation of its abundance. The effectiveness of the measures will be achieved if the destruction of invasive slugs is started simultaneously in the entire territory and the application of all measures is coordinated.
Destruction (remediation) of suitable hiding, breeding and wintering places for slugs. Slugs do not tolerate direct sunlight and drought, they look for hiding places where they spend sunny days and lay eggs. Piles of plant waste or other organic matter, containers for animal food, plant pots, boxes, decorative decorations, boards, firewood, slate sheets, construction waste, greenhouse films, household appliances, tires and other misplaced items that create small spaces under them become hiding places. with humid microclimatic conditions.
Destruction of slugs by chemical means. This measure will be applied by the company that won the public procurement and has the right to use molluscicides for professional use.
Catching slugs with traps. Slugs are difficult to pick out of the territory because they are hidden or simply too scattered, so it makes sense to use traps for adult slugs. There are two types of traps - baited and unbaited.
In private areas, "wet mat type traps" can work well, where slugs gather on hotter days due to a special wet coating placed on the ground.
Extermination of slugs using pickling and salt. After collecting the slugs, they are always placed in a sealed container and covered with a small amount (a handful) of salt. Both food and technical salt can be used. Due to salt exposure, slugs dehydrate and die within minutes. Dead slugs are disposed of in the same way as other organic animal waste.
Extermination of slugs by mowing the grass. Grass cutting is required to remove hiding places and reduce the food base for slugs that did not die after the first molluscicide treatment.
The problem of the spread of invasive slugs is not only an ecological problem, but also a public welfare issue. We encourage residents to clean their yards and compost correctly. Your active participation and cooperation are necessary in order to achieve the goal of keeping the environment of Vilnius district clean and healthy.
