Slugs & Snails (2026)
Lettuce, hostas, seedlings
Quick answer: Slugs & Snails attacks lettuce, hostas, seedlings. Start with the organic/IPM steps below; use the chemical option only if damage escalates, and always follow the product label. Remove mulch/debris; water in morning not evening.
Your Slugs & Snails IPM card
Select your state to see whether this pest is common there, then print.
Slugs & Snails in Alaska: Listed among the most-reported pests in your state — watch for it.
Slugs & Snails
Targets
Lettuce, hostas, seedlings
Signs
Ragged holes; silvery slime trails at night.
Organic / IPM first
Beer traps; diatomaceous earth; hand-pick at night; copper tape.
Chemical option (follow label)
Iron phosphate bait (low toxicity) or metaldehyde.
Prevention
Remove mulch/debris; water in morning not evening.
Slugs & Snails by host plant
Host-specific signs and control — see the full pest × host reference.
More pests
Treatments follow integrated pest management (IPM): identify first, least-toxic fix second. Product specifics and labels vary by state — confirm with your county extension.