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Last Updated on August 9 , 2023
Got slugs ? Come learn how to make DIY beer traps to attract and pop slugs , snail , pill bugs and more . Homemade beer traps are a cheap , easy and efficient way to control slug populations in the garden when necessary . They really do study !
As organic gardeners , we’reneveron a commission to outright eradicate anything . Nor should a garden be “ everlasting ” , free of pest or occasional plant price ! Yet following an remarkably extra - fuddled winter , our garden has been overrun with more slugs than ever this spring . So in an effort to reduce their universe , protect our plants from further damage , and avoid the use of chemical slug bait , we limit up a few slug beer traps alternatively .
Why do slugs like beer? How do beer traps work?
Because slug like to party ! Just jolly . punch are attract to beer primarily because of thesweet , fermented yeasty scent . That allege , other forms of ferment yeast may attract slugs too , including water - downsourdough starter ! ( Yes , we render it , and it works quite well . )
Beer traps work by luring in slug , and as they enter and drink the beer , they become drunk , ca n’t get back out , and drown . One limitation is that beer traps typically only appeal poke within the straightaway locality , or about 3 feet away . Therefore , you may need to expend several traps throughout the garden or a twosome per garden bed .
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What other pests are attracted to beer traps?
In improver to slugs , beer trap attract a number of other garden pests includingpill bugs ( rollie pollies ) , snails , earwigs ( pincher germ ) , and cutworms . We often bump a change of insects in our beer trap – but thankfully never any bees , ladybug , lacewing fly , or other “ good guys ” . Larger critters may also be attracted to the beer however . On social occasion , our beer traps have been relocate and licked clean ( include the slugs being eaten ) by what we suspect is a raccoon or maybe an opossum .
Are pill bugs bad in the garden?
Not necessarily ! oral contraceptive bugs or rollie polliesare not commonly badin the garden . Theyprimarilyeat decay thing , which really aid improve constitutive matter and nutrient cycling in the dirt . However , if there is a robust enough universe of pill bugs and not enough other food sources , they can apace become gadfly and turn to eating garden plant .
Pill germ are peculiarly attracted to ripe yield , tender new seedlings and sprout . That can be very frustrative , so we ’ve used beer traps for rollie pollies when necessary too . Leaving a few unwanted leaves or bits of garden truck lying on the stain ( e.g. melon rinds ) can also give rollie pollies something to crunch on – besides your works !
What’s the best beer for slug traps?
type slug and snail are not too fussy about their beer . Any beer can work in a gob , though punch seem peculiarly draw tolight , yeasty beerslikelagers , pilsners , hefeweizen , or light-haired ales . Plus , slugs are a bum appointment – no want to give them your agio brews !
What kind of container is best to make a beer trap?
you could make a slug beer trap out of any kind of upcycled container – as long as it has a wide opening and can hold a couple inches of beer in spite of appearance . Most gardener usewide shallow container , though I ’ve see some beer traps that are more narrow and deep too ( like a pee nursing bottle ) .
Save and rinse out cat solid food cans , dog nutrient cans , or tuna bum work great ! Other ideas include plastic food storage ( tupperware ) containers , aluminium Proto-Indo European pans , used cottage tall mallow , yogurt , margarine , or sour cream vat , contract water bottles , plastic cups , or similar . I ’m sure you already have something on hand !
How to Make a Slug Beer Trap
Instructions
And that’s how to make beer traps for slugs, pill bugs, and more.
Well tribe , I go for this tip help you operate pests and minimize flora impairment in your garden . If necessitate , you’re able to also browse10 constitutional ways to control lick and snails here . Please consider portion out this berth of leave a military rating below if you find out it useful ! Now go crack undecided a brew and pour one out for the slug homies . Cheers !
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Homemade Slug Beer Trap (Pill Bugs or Rollie Pollies)
Equipment
Ingredients
