Garlic Tested in War Against Snails and Slugs

Yahoo! ^ | Friday, September 12, 2003 | Patricia Reaney

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Dracula is not the only creature repelled by garlic -- snails and slugs are also put off by the pungent herb.

And now British scientists have produced a special garlic extract that may just be the answer to gardeners' prayers.

"It works well in repelling and killing snails," Dr Gordon Port, of Newcastle University in northern England, said on Friday.

Using garlic to kill snails and slugs is not new. Monks for example grew it in gardens to keep pests away. But Port and his colleagues have shown scientifically that an experimental garlic oil product is a killer.

"We've done scientific tests in the laboratory which have shown it to work," Port told the British Association for the Advancement of Science conference.

How it kills the slugs and snails isn't clear. As soon as the pests reached a barrier of the garlic oil they turned around and headed the other way.

"If they can't escape from it, it will kill them. It seems to cause an over-production of their mucus, so they effectively dry up," Port said.

Death is swift -- within a few hours, he added.

Although they haven't tested the effectiveness of using ordinary garlic or oil extracted from it on the pests, they said it may work but have no proof that it does.

Port believes oils in the herb are the active component but he does not know whether they are acidic. The odor is thought to be what repels the pests.

"We would perceive it as odor. My whole lab smells of garlic," he said.

But Port added it was unlikely that gardens or crops in which the garlic oil is used would end up reeking of it.

Snails and slugs, which enjoy feasting on lettuce and other leafy green plants and vegetables, cause millions of dollars worth of damage in countries with cool, temperate climates.

Garlic is not the only food or beverage known to kill them. Beer is also lethal.

"Beer does attract them, or at least it traps them. We have found in our tests that if you put a pot of beer and a pot of water out for slugs they will go to each with equal frequency," he said.

"But they never climb out of the pot of beer again."

[Willie Green]

Calif garlic farmers cede decade-long battle to Chinese exports

[Willie Green]

ping

[x1stcav]

I used to spill enough beer around our patio that snails and slugs were never a problem. Do not, repeat, do not, waste garlic on the pests.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

It has been tested. It does nothing to the
french frogs, snails, and slugs.

[evolved_rage]

Now by snails and slugs, they're talking about welfare recipients, right??? I say lets get more garlic!

[b4its2late]

"It works well in repelling and killing snails,"

Beer and salt work too.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

If you want to kill slugs, bait them out at night with a little canned dog food in a flat paper plate. Then sprinkle a small amount of salt on them, and watch them shrivle up! Just like a Democrat when exposed to truth!

How can you tell a Demo-rat has passed by?
You can see his slime trail!

[lizma]

but he does not know whether they are acidic.

Hasn't this guy ever heard of litmus paper?

The odor is thought to be what repels the pests. "We would perceive it as odor. My whole lab smells of garlic," HUH?

Either this article was written by an idiotic journalist or are the words of an idiotic scientist.

[coton_lover]

We have used a granulated garlic and water mixture to spray on our fruits and veggies for years. It keeps both the birds and the bugs away. They can't smell when the fruits and veggies are ripe. The fruits and veggies get no garlic taste or odor. We just wash and eat--vine and tree ripened. It is not toxic at all.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

Another use for California garlic!

[goldstategop]

You can also kill snails and slugs by pouring salt on them. Its also quite lethal to the pests.

[Rebelbase]

Garlic should be used liberally with snails:

SNAILS IN GARLIC BUTTER

1 can snails with shells
1/2 c. soft butter
2 or 3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 1/2 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. dried chervil leaves
1/8 tsp. nutmeg

Prepare several hours before serving. Wash snail shells
and drain well on paper towels. Drain snails and set aside.
Combine butter with remaining ingredients; mix well. Place a
little butter mixture in each shell. Push a snail into each
shell; cover with more mixture. Arrange filled shells careful-
ly, open end up, in a flat baking dish. Cover and refrigerate.
To serve: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake snails in shells,
uncovered, 8 to 10 minutes or until butter is very bubbly.
Serve immediately

[hedgetrimmer]

Now if you can just keep the gophers from eating the garlic before the snails get to it!

[LibKill]

No snails please, I'm Texan.:)

[headsonpikes]

I've been waging just such a war on snails using garlic as you describe for years!

It works a charm. They always surrender!

I'll pass on the slugs, however. ;^)