Terrestrial Slugs

This book is a review of the current knowledge of the biology and ecology of slugs, together with their status and control as pests.

Part 1 Introduction: classification of slugs; survey of slug families; history of the British slug fauna; British slugs. Part 2 Structure: external features; internal anatomy; integument; locomotion; shell. Part 3 Feeding, digestion and metabolism: feeding and digestion; energy metabolism; carbohydrate metabolism; lipid metabolism; calcium metabolism; nitrogen metabolism. Part 4 Vascular system, water relations and nitrogenous excretion. Part 5 Reproduction: reproductive tract; spermatogenesis, oogenesis and fertilization; egg; mating and egg laying; control of reproduction; organ culture and regeneration genetics. Part 6 Nervous system, sensory structures and neurosecretion: nervous system; sensory structures; endocrinology; control of water balance, locomotion, reproduction, feeding. Part 7 Behaviour: feeding behaviour; chemoreception; agonistic and dispersive behaviour; locomotor activity. Part 8 Life cycles: development of the egg; postembryonic development; life spans and life tables; field studies. Part 9 Predators, parasites and disease: predators; parasites; disease; abnormalities and injuries. Part 10 Ecology: estimation of populations; slug populations; communities; production and energy flow; conservation; pollution. Part 11 Slugs and man; slug damage - Great Britain, Europe, North America, other countries. Part 12 Control of slug pests: history of chemical control; recent developments in slug control by chemicals; metaldehyde; methiocarb; application of molluscicides; efficiency of mataldehyde and methiocarb; environmental effects of molluscicides; other methods of controls. Appendices: Culture methods; anaesthetizing, narcotizing and preserving slugs.