Effectiveness of Different Beer Types in Slug Trapping: A Two-Year Field Study on Arion vulgaris Moquin-Tandon and Limax maximus L

Žiga Laznik (), Stanislav Trdan, Miha Ocvirk and Iztok Jože Košir
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Žiga Laznik: Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Stanislav Trdan: Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Miha Ocvirk: Chemical Analysis and Brewing, Slovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing, Cesta Žalskega tabora 2, 3310 Žalec, Slovenia
Iztok Jože Košir: Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Slugs are significant agricultural pests, causing extensive crop damage and economic losses. While chemical molluscicides are commonly used for control, concerns about their environmental impact have driven interest in alternative methods, including beer traps. This study evaluated the effectiveness of different beer types as attractants for slug trapping in field conditions over two consecutive years (2022–2023). Five types of beer—Union Lager, Paulaner Weissbier, BrewDog Punk IPA, Guinness Draught, and Chimay Blue—were tested alongside ethanol (10%) and a control treatment. The results demonstrated that Paulaner Weissbier and Union Lager were the most effective attractants, followed by Guinness Draught and Chimay Blue, while BrewDog Punk IPA had moderate effectiveness. Ethanol (10%) and the control treatment failed to attract slugs, confirming that volatile compounds, rather than alcohol alone, drive slug attraction. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that Paulaner Weissbier contained high levels of isoamyl acetate and limonene, while Union Lager exhibited elevated ethyl esters, which likely contributed to their effectiveness. Environmental factors influenced slug activity, with higher temperatures correlating with increased slug capture rates, while precipitation had no significant effect. These findings highlight the role of fermentation-derived volatile compounds in slug attraction and suggest that optimizing beer traps based on beer composition and environmental conditions could improve their effectiveness as a non-chemical slug control method. Future research should explore the long-term stability of beer attractants, the potential of synthetic formulations, and alternative yeast-based attractants to enhance slug management strategies.

Keywords: slug control; beer traps; gastropod attractants; non-chemical pest management; volatile compounds; GC-MS analysis; integrated pest management (IPM); environmental factors; fermentation by-products; alternative molluscicides (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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