The Big Bug Hunt 2017: Gain The Upper Hand On Garden Pests

Welcome to the Big Bug Hunt 2017 international research project newsletter!

There’s no better time to be in the garden than spring. There’s lots to do, but this is also a crucial time to start looking out for common, and not so common, garden pests. Aphids, Japanese beetles, slugs – they’re all gearing up for a summer of action and now’s the moment to gain the upper hand and stop them! Look for pests on the ground among your plants, on leaves, stems and buds, or in the soil as you till, plant and tend. When you find a bug, hop onto The Big Bug Hunt website to file a report. It takes seconds and you’ll be helping to build up a picture of when and where bugs spread. Don’t forget, we want to know about all bugs, both pests and beneficials. Thank you for taking part!

Get on Top of Slugs Slugs are the gardener’s enemy number one! Don’t let them get the better of you. Watch our how-to video and win the war on slugs this growing season.

Bug Bites: 5 Surprising Slug Facts Underground Crime: About 95% of the slug population is below ground at any one time. Eggstravagance: The malevolent mollusks lay up to 100 eggs at once, several times a year! Living the Life: In ideal conditions a slug will live for up to six years. Count Them: There are up to 250 slugs in every cubic yard of soil. Seeing Green: Unlike most animals, a slug’s blood is actually green.

Ones to Watch We’d love to know about all of the bugs you spot, including beneficial bugs such as these ones:

Spider Great because: Eats a range of small insect pests Find out more... Ground Beetle Great because: Controls many pests, including slugs Find out more... Earthworm Great because: Aerates and fertilizes the soil Find out more... Bumble Bee Great because: Pollinates many vegetables and fruits Find out more...

Learn more about these and other pests, plus beneficial bugs here.

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