The Villanueva entomology laboratory at the UK-REC at Princeton has been monitoring slugs and snails since January 2024. On 27 February, 2024, we published an article in the Kentucky Pest News blog titled “Slugs are Active in February 2024, but Farmers Have Two Registered Molluscicides under Section 24(c) in Kentucky” advising farmers to monitor for slugs. On April 30, 2024, a second article was published, “Pre- and Post-emergence Strike of Slugs & Snails on Soybeans.” This article was about the damages slugs were causing to soybean seeds and seedlings and metaldehyde efficacy. By the end of the 2024 season, approximately 30,000 acres of soybeans were affected by slugs or snails, and most of the metaldehyde baits intended for the Kentucky market were sold. The use of baits by commercial soybean farmers in Kentucky is based on the research conducted by Villanueva’s Entomology lab in Princeton. Using baits to control mollusks may save at least $55/acre: Cost of seeds for replanting ($40/A) + Labor ($7/A) + Equipment ($8/A) + Bait ($15); this is a saving of at least $1,650 million ($55 X 30,000 acres) in Kentucky. Thanks to studies conducted about mollusks in KY, I was recently invited to participate in a study for slugs with the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP), which will provide $40,000 for my program for 2025.

Presentations were conducted on field days, farmers meetings, and conferences organized by County Extension Agents