The season starts early this year, lots of rainfall followed by high temperatures have created good conditions for the killer snails.
– I saw the ones that were up already at Easter, they were also a little bigger than they usually are at this time, says Ted von Proschwitz, curator at Gothenburg’s natural history museum.
Killer snails were established in Sweden in 1976 and are classified as an invasive species. In addition to making a mess of gardens and crops, the killer snail poses a threat to native snails.
Not started breeding
Today, Saturday, is the “unlucky day of the killer snails”, an initiative that started two years ago with the aim of killing as many killer snails as possible.
– I think you should hang on to this. This early, they have not started reproduction and then you prevent egg laying, says Ted von Proschwitz.
But getting rid of the snails forever is currently not possible, says Ted von Proschwitz. The bisexual killer snail can lay up to 400 eggs in one season.
– They have far too many qualities on their side. If a single egg remains, they have the opportunity to build a new population.
The tip: Go out in the evening
To get rid of killer slugs, Ted von Proschwitz advises going outside when it gets dark and the humidity rises, which attracts the slugs.
Ted von Proschwitz gives his best tips on how to kill killer slugs and addresses common claims in the video above.