Why does salt kill slugs?

+10 votes
asked Jun 7, 2018 in Home & Garden by Charlie (1,080 points)
edited Mar 11, 2019
I just noticed a six-inch yellow slug on my lawn. I heard that if you pour salt on a slug, it will die. Is it true? Why does salt kill slugs?

2 Answers

+13 votes
answered Nov 18, 2018 by carmeshia (950 points)
edited Feb 23, 2019
Yes, salt will kill a slug.

This is because salt uses the osmosis that slugs depend on to dehydrate them and suck the water out of their body. Slugs gather water around them to hydrate themselves, and if the water is removed, the slug cannot survive.

A slug secretes slime that allows it to eat, move, and function. A slug’s slime is mainly water, but also contains a small amount of salt. The amount of water in the slime is perfect for the slug to keep it hydrated and functioning properly. The slug keeps drawing in water with a process called osmosis, something many animals use, but mostly smaller cells.

When the slug draws in water that contains salt, the slug has no way of knowing the salt is present, and sucks it in just like any other water. The slug can also glide over the salt and pick it up that way. As soon as salt makes contact with a slug’s body, it will start to dehydrate it and force the water out of the slug. The slug now no longer has the means to create the slime it needs to function. The salt will take the place of the water, leaving the slug completely dried out.
+6 votes
answered Dec 8, 2018 by Virgen (580 points)
edited Mar 17, 2019

Why does salt kill slugs? Slugs contain water in their bodies, and they need it to survive. If you sprinkle salt on a slug, the water will be drawn out and the slug will dry up.

Another way to kill a slug is a beer trap.

Fill a container half way with beer and put it in the ground. Make sure to leave a few centimeters above ground level so other insects won’t fall in. Put a few twigs in just in case, so other insects can escape.

Check out this link if you’re having slug problems and want to make a great beer trap:

http://www.slugoff.co.uk/killing-slugs/beer-trap

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