Slaters

How to identify a Slater

Slaters are less than 20mm in length, with armoured, flattened, segmented bodies, grey/brown in colour with 1 pair of legs per segment.

Slaters are usually considered beneficial because they feed on decaying organic matter, and that way help to build the soil. In high numbers, however they can shift to crop seedlings and become a pest.

What damage can Slaters do?

Damage can include ringbarking of stems and young branches, as well as uneven rasping-type damage like that caused by slugs or snails. They often seek refuge under rocks, pots, and mulch during the day.

How to control Slaters

• keep mulch clear of the furrow when sowing seed
• make traps with damp newspapers (trapped earwigs can be fed to chooks or birds)
• cover seedlings with bottomless containers as a barrier and where possible keep plants and fruit off the ground, such as growing strawberries in pots.