LONDON -- Prepare to batten down the hatches and keep clear of the garden: A slugocalypse may be on the way.
Mild winter temperatures have created the perfect conditions for a sharp population growth of native slugs -- as well as the recently introduced Spanish slugs -- the Telegraph reports.
The Spanish variety, which was first seen in Britain in 2012, is of particular concern, as it can grow up to 15 centimeters long and is resistant to most slug pellets. It also produces twice the amount of eggs as native slugs.
Also, Spanish slugs bring with them a variety of diseases and parasites that are harmful to our native slugs and snails.
The 2014-15 winter in the UK is likely to have been the sunniest on record, according to the Met Office. However, temperatures and precipitation both came out slightly above average for the season.
"It's been estimated that a cubic metre of a garden in the UK could accommodate up to 200 slugs, each of which can have up to 200 offspring," Entomologist Dr. Ian Bedford told the Telegraph.
"They usually survive the winter in our gardens as eggs. Without a cold snap, it's fair to say that slug numbers, especially the invading Spanish slug (which can lay up to 400 eggs), will escalate this year.”
Great, thanks for that Dr. Bedford.
The Telegraph lists several things you can do to keep the slug gangs away from your back yard, including heading out at night with a torch to collect and remove slugs, burying jugs of beer to trap the creatures, and greasing the rims of pots with Vaseline mixed with salt.
On second thought, you could just hide indoors.