The killer slug, Arion lusitanicus, have invaded the garden
It’s been many years since the killer slugs was found in a garden nearby. Since then I have every summer expected the invasion. Now it happened, with many years of delay. I have found two adults and four youths in all, on three occasions, within the last three weeks. I have often searched in the garden morning or evening without finding any killer slugs. But now I probably should get the habit of these late walks to round up the slugs, and I hope it will become a dear habit.
They are nicknamed killer slugs, but we are killing more of them, than visa-versa.
A lot of snails and slugs live in the garden already. Since the news of killer slugs approaching, I’ve been more gentle towards my old snails and slugs. It visible in the number of burgundy snails, which has increased from rare to ordinary. They eat tits and bits of my plants, but less than would be annoying. I want them to stay, so I will not use poison or nematodes against the killer slugs. Change my mind later? Maybe! But first I will try to find a balanced way to live with them, and only kill them individually, when I find them, not to suppress my friends, the “old” snails and slugs.
Does anybody know for certain, if the are edible – maybe even delicious?
I could build a cage to collect them, until enough for an hors d’oeuvre. This way I might even be thankful for the day they finally arrived 
From my “old snails and slugs” I have learned, that some things, like germinating melons must be protected, or they will feast on the tender sprouts. But when the plants get just a little larger, they are out of danger. Coffee, ground, fresh or from used filters, keep my “old” snails and slugs off the germinating plants, and no harm done (I hope). I will continue and intensify the use of coffee (it’s also good for the soil).
June 26, 2012 at 15:31
A trick I learned from my dad–a great gardener–is that citrus peel attracts slugs. After squeezing oranges, lemons, or grapefruit, leave the half-shells upside down on the soil. The slugs gather inside them, instead of eating the plants. You can then decide whether to sentence the invaders to death or deportation
June 27, 2012 at 08:10
That’s really too bad the killer slugs have finally come to your garden. We still have the burgundy snails, and I haven’t seen any of the grey ones yet…
A new gardener at our community garden came to me in a panic a few weeks ago, wanting advice on what to do about all the snails in his garden. At first he found it hard to believe that he just didn’t need to do anything, but he understands now.
June 27, 2012 at 18:36
Thanks for the citrus advice – I will start using citrus half-shells in future. I would like to use the captures as semi-wild micro-livestock, but lack some experience from others, before I will try to eat them. Deportation is no option, as this species is invading new areas year by year, and I have no intentions of speeding that up.
The killer slug is my sixth slug/snail species in my garden, as far as I can tell. Some of the smaller ones need a close look to tell apart. I hope the diversity will make the killer slug blend in with not too much trouble.
This is my list of species:
Limax maximus
Deroceras agreste
Cepaea nemoralis
Helix pomatia
Arianta arbustorum
Arion lusitanicus (killerslug)
July 5, 2012 at 19:47
Just looked more carefully, I also enjoy Cepaea hortensis in my garden
June 28, 2012 at 12:35
I’m going to have to look closer at what I’ve got. I know I have Helix pomatia, this is the most common one. It hardly bothers my plants at all.
July 5, 2012 at 03:01
Funny, I thought exactly the same thing when looking at that fat thing: is it edible?
July 5, 2012 at 19:50
I’ve found some recipes in danish and swedish, but none convincing. I look for a recipe, where the taste of the slug is not covered by other ingredients, but rather enhanced by other ingredients.
July 5, 2012 at 23:42
But why is it called “killer” slug?
July 6, 2012 at 19:26
You’ve probably already read this piece: http://www.sydsvenskan.se/lund/krogare-hamnas-pa-mordarsniglarna/
Still, it’s worth sharing with the rest of your readers I think.
My own conclusion is; animals that taste good don’t get to live in large numbers
The most common explanation to the name “killer slug” is the fact that they prey on their own kin