Copper Slug Tape Multibuy 3 x 4m rolls

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Copper sulphate is made by combining copper alloy with sulphuric acid. Whilst sulphur dioxide emissions from power stations have dropped enormously in Western Europe since the 1980s, there is still enough in the atmosphere for rain to contain traces of sulphuric acid. In certain places within the UK you will be receiving higher doses of sulphuric acid in your rain than others. What happens when this acid rain lands on copper alloy tape on your outdoor plant pots? It makes trace amounts of copper sulphate which runs down your pot and into the soil. I therefore put it to you that as the copper tape weathers, in some areas it releases traces of copper sulphate which makes it even more potent, especially on more porous terracotta pots that can hold onto the copper sulphate. If you live in a city there’s probably more chance of copper tape having this effect than if you live in the countryside. I can’t prove that it exists but it would seem logical. As members of the Mollusca group of animals, slugs and snails use Hemocyanin proteins in their blood to transport oxygen around their bodies ( whereas we mammals use iron based Hemoglobin). These Hemocyanin proteins contain two copper atoms. This makes all molluscs very sensitive to the ingestion of additional quantities of copper. Too much copper and it prevents oxygen from moving around their bodies and they eventually die, unless they flee to safety.

While this research hasn’t shed any light on what you can do to obstruct slugs and snails, it has at least shown that these barriers can be unreliableand ineffective. The most humane way to get rid of slugs? Hayley said: “Collect the slugs by hand - the best time to catch them is at night, and either release them at a local wood or pop them in your freezer before binning them Encourage their natural predators into your garden by creatinga haven for wildlife, such as birds and frogs. The green patina developed on copper metal over time is a copper carbonate salt and could be toxic.

How we tested the barriers

My criticism of your comments on ‘Electrical current’ as it related to the use of copper is that it represented a deductive approach not an empirical one. Things often fail or succeed for reasons other than we anticipate. There is no substitute for testing. If I go out at night I will usually see 2-3 slugs oozing circles around the bottom of the barrier but not crossing it. I have seen a slug or two successfully cross it, but it’s rare. If I had to guess I would say I get about 1/20th -1/200th the slug prevalence I used to previously high slug traffic areas I have since “protected”. (tough to say because I am too lazy to count, and I can’t tell how many slugs crossed the barrier vs just live on the other side)

My friend suggested garlic water sprayed on the plants and left to dry. Apparently they don’t like the taste. Reapply every 2 weeks. Recipe below. Does this work?Great to see… to add to the video list, I liked this one on the topic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFn9TT_rlXU I am not a chemist but guess it is due to some kind of ion exchange or electron donation. My guess is that something similar is taking place between the bright copper and the molluscs. Roofing metals are chosen for the job because their oxides adhere to their surface and are chemically inert under normal atmospheric condition. Knowledge of this fact is what lead me to triy the experiment in the first place. Don’t want to kill slugs, just deter them. Someone suggested mint leaves-dry. He/she didn’t know if it worked when wet. I don’t believe in killing slugs–whenever man invades Nature by killing off it’s creatures, it creates an imbalance somewhere else (as we have SLOWLY learned). Man (and other people) are the worst environmental stewards. But Dr Hayley Jones, entomologist at the RHS and lead researcher, said: “With the likes of eggshells, barks and mulch so far proving no discernible deterrent to slugs and snails, we would recommend using proven formulas like nematode biological control if the damage is just too much to bear.”

Hayley grew 108 lettuces in a series of nine patio pots and nine raised beds and monitored them for six weeks. Uniform Application of Copper Sulfate as a Potential Treatment for Controlling Snail Populations in Channel Catfish Production Ponds If you’re using any of these five home remedies to deter slugs and snails, consider carefully whether they are making enough difference to be worth the investment. But wool pellets and pine bark did have one clear benefit: by acting as a fertiliser and mulch, they helped lettuces yield a 50% bigger crop. SPECIAL OFFER - These His and Hers Solitary Bee Houses are wall mountable wooden bee houses that have been designed…I imagine barrier efficacy might depend on the width of the barrier and skinnier tapes might be less effective barriers than 5″ of mesh. I have yet to try using any other type of mesh (steel, aluminum) but if I get bored that might be a fun experiment. I also imagine in addition to whatever theoretical chemical/electrical property copper has that slugs don’t like, there is likely a mechanical component because irregular wire loops might be irritating to ooze across and there may be some variability in effect based on the size/configuration of the wire in the mesh. The RHS also plans to test alternative control methods, such as beer traps, and is currently working with BASF to investigate ways to combine scientifically proven control methods into pest management strategies. Help us do more research Simple test. Fit copper tape round terracotta pot. Place 6 slug pellets on top of pot. Leave over night.