THE POTENTIAL OF CARABID BEETLES TO CONTROL SLUGS IN GRASS CLOVER SWARDS

Experiments conducted in sward boxes under controlled conditions showed that the carabid beetles Abax parallelepipedus (Piller & Mitterpacher) and Pterostichus madidus F. controlled slugs in a grass/clover sward. Control was shown to be as good as that by the molluscicide, methiocarb. A. parallelepipedus proved to be more successful than P. madidus at controlling the slugs, damage to the clover being kept to a minimum. P. madidus controlled the slugs only after some damage to the clover was sustained.