RHS declares slugs and snails as chief garden pests

Slugs and snails proved to be the biggest pests for gardeners in 2009 because of their tendencies to feed on the leaves, stems and roots of various plants, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has revealed.

Based on enquiries by members in the past year, the RHS Entomology team have amassed a list of the top ten nuisances that people have to put up with in the garden.

Other pests to make the list include the Harlequin ladybird, lily beetle, and the vine weevil, with chafer grubs making up the top five.

According to the organisation, snails and slugs cause the bulk of their damage in the period between spring and autumn and they have a particular liking for potato tubers and narcissus flowers.

Meanwhile, gardeners were also told to keep a look out for vine weevils, as the adult beetle is one of a rare group that has the capability of killing plants.

It is added that the larvae has the particular inclination to feed on plant roots kept in pots and other containers.

Furthermore, the RHS highlighted that there are approximately seven species of slugs that can be considered to be a garden pest, most of which do most of their feeding during the night.