Molluscicide Bait to Manage Slugs & Snails on Soybeans in KY is Registered Under Section 24©

Figure 1. Snail feeding on a soybean cotyledon (Photo: Raul Villanueva, UK) 

By Raul T. Villanueva, Entomology Extension Specialist

Slugs & Snails

During the last couple of years, slugs and snails have become serious pests of soybeans in many areas of the North Central U.S., including Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. These mollusks feed on germinating seeds until the V0 to V4 growth stages of soybean plants. Typically, cotyledons (Figure 1) and unifoliate leaves are damaged; however, when the apical meristem is destroyed, the plant growth is totally thwarted, causing plant death (Figure 2). Outbreaks of mollusks can reduce plant densities, and there is no rescue treatment when this occurs. Replanting is the only option for commercial soybean farmers when damage to plant stands is severe. However, if farmers scout in the spring, they can use metaldehyde baits as a preventative control management practice. 

Figure 2. Six soybean plants with the apical meristem completely consumed by slugs (red arrows); the only plant that will produce beans is on the left side of the picture (Photo: Raul Villanueva, UK).

Metaldehyde Baits & Scouting

Recently, Deadline® M-Ps™ (metaldehyde) was registered in Kentucky to be used in soybeans under FIFRA 24(c) special local needs (SLN). Although there is no threshold for slugs, scouting should be conducted before spreading the metaldehyde baits. Scouting for mollusks may be conducted after rains and on foggy days with cool temperatures in order to find slugs or snails early in the morning, or scout just before or after sunset. The applications of baits should follow the manufacturer’s directions. 

Rates and Directions

Baits may be applied as soil surface treatment. It may be broadcast by air or ground equipment. It should not be mixed with any seeds prior to application. For best results, apply in the evening. 

The EPA SLN label for Deadline® M-Ps™ is located here or in the following link: http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ld2GN005.pdf