Slugs. Do little. Too late.

[gunnaknow]

I think that what you're after is actually Iron phosphate. Whilst all inorganic salts of copper, aluminum and iron are toxic to slugs, it is iron phosphate in particular that is used in slug bait.

 

[gunnaknow]

Sluggo contains iron phosphate.

http://rosecare1.stores.yahoo.net/snailbait.html

 

[esbe]

heres a swiss report on "ferramol" that is easy to make yourself for very lil money

http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cach...ol&hl=da&ct=clnk&cd=39&gl=dk&client=firefox-a

Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick, Switzerland, January 2006
Provisional evaluation of the use of "Ferramol Schneckenkorn" in Organic Farming in
Switzerland.
(Ferric phosphate slug pellets, marketed in Europe as Ferramol and in the US as Sluggo or Escargo)
Preliminary Statement: The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) evaluates the
substances that can be used by organic farms with Bio Suisse certification. The permitted substances
are listed on the FiBL's “agents list”, which is published every year. One of the conditions of
acceptance and listing is an evaluation of the the complete formula as provided by the manufacturer of
the agent. According of appendix 1 of the Organic Farming Ordinance of the EDV
1
(Swiss Department
of National Economy), molluscicides based on iron (III) orthophosphate are acceptable in organic
farming. The only registered product in Switzerland to contain this active ingredient is W. Neudorff
GmbH KG's “Ferramol Schneckenkorn” . As yet the company has not applied to FiBL for inclusion in
the “agents sheet” and no formula has been submitted for evaluation, despite the great interest
expressed by farmers in obtaining Bio-Suisse certificatin for the product. Consequently, the FiBL
initiated a provisional evaluation based on chemical analyses. Two samples taken from lot numbers
212010 and 206061 were analysed by Interlabor Belp Ltd. The samples were analysed for GMO
(method GT-010-004-PCR), iron content (method PS-010-002* ICP) and the two molluscicidal active
ingredients methiocarb and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) (method GM-010-003* GC).
The FiBL has drawn the following provisional conclusions from the results:
•
Application: “Ferramol Schneckenkorn” is a bait that has to be ingested by slugs or snails. It is
used in a similar way to products with different active ingredients (e.g. metaldehyde). Its active
ingredient content is lower, but the application rate is higher. Its efficacy was found to be weaker in
some trials
2
.
•
Necessity: Slugs and snails are major pests
3
in organic agriculture (especially in vegetables and
ornamentals). Only the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is approved for slug control in
Swiss organic agriculture. Compared to this method, “Ferramol Schneckenkorn” is much less
expensive, faster-reacting and easier to handle.
•
Ingredients: An active ingredient content of 1 % iron III phosphate is declared on the package.
The analyses proved the following: (1) The iron content corresponds with the declaration on the
package; (2) the product contains no GMO; (3) the product contains no methiocarb; (4) the
product contains 1.1 to 1.2 % EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). According to the patent
4
,
iron salts have virtually no effect on slugs or snails and have to be combined with an EDTA
derivative. The effect of iron+EDTA on molluscs has already been described in the scientific
literature
5,6
. Consequently we also regard EDTA as a molluscicide in this evaluation.
•
Environment: Iron phosphate cannot be assumed to have negative impacts, whereas EDTA is
ranked as an undesired substance by the FiBL because it binds with metal ions and increases
their mobility and availability in the environment. This is particularly true of heavy or radioactive
metals. As a result they can more easily penetrate into groundwater or be taken up by plants
7
.
•
Human health: Iron phosphate has virtually no toxic effect on mammals and humans (LD
50
oral
administered >5000 mg/kg). However, with an LD
50
of 30 mg/kg, EDTA is more toxic than the
widely used active ingredient metaldehyde (LD
50
= 230-700 mg/kg). This being said, it is unlikely
that the actual formulation would have direct negative implications for human health.
•
Origin: The declared active ingredient iron phosphate occurs naturally in various minerals
8,9
.
However, the FiBL has no information that the second active ingredient EDTA occurs naturally.
Translated from German
The original text is published on the following website www.fibl.org > Aktuell > Stellungnahmen
Page 2
•
Customer acceptance: (1) The main criticism levelled at established slug and snail pellets is their
claimed or actual toxicity for hedgehogs, dogs etc. Because of its low toxicity, iron phosphate
scores well in this respect. As regards the toxicity of EDTA, however, the FiBL doubts that
“Ferramol Schneckenkorn” has much of an edge over other slug and snail pellets in this respect.
(2) EDTA could cause an increased uptake of heavy metals by crops grown in contaminated soils.
This is certainly undesirable to customers.
•
Traditions of organic agriculture: Organic agriculture forbids the use of substances of synthetic
chemical origin that do not occur naturally. This means that while iron phosphate may be use,
EDTA may not.
•
Precedents: (1) trace element fertilizers, cleaning, disinfecting and hygienic agents are not listed
on the “agents sheet” if they contain EDTA. (2) The use of EDTA is similar to the use of piperonyl
butoxide (Pipox) to increase the efficacy of pyrethrum. Pyrethrum products containing pipox have
not been accepted by the FiBL since 2000.
Conclusions
"Ferramol Schneckenkorn" is not listed on the FiBL's “agents list” because an application for approval
and formula have not been submitted to FiBL. According to the EDV (Swiss Department of National
Economy), commercial goods containing EDTA as an active ingredient are not permitted.
Consequently, and in light of the arguments set out above concerning the origin of EDTA, its
environmental behaviour and its possible effects on food crops, the FiBL could only accept this
product if it were guaranteed to be free from EDTA. We would welcome the development of EDTA-
free formulations of the active ingredient iron phosphate.
We would point out that this is a provisional conclusion based on the analysis of selected substances
and of two samples, but not on the detailed composition of the formulation. These conclusions are
based on our current state of knowledge and will be updated as soon we obtain new information and
facts.
Lucius Tamm und Bernhard Speiser
General information: this document is based on the criteria developed in the ORGANIC INPUTS
EVALUATION project.
_________________________________________________________________________________
1 Verordnung des EVD über die biologische Landwirtschaft. SR 910.181.
2 Speiser, B. & Kistler, C. (2002). Field tests with a molluscicide containing iron phosphate. Crop Protection, 21,
389-394.
3 Kesper, C. & Imhof, T. (1998). Anbauprobleme im Feldgemüsebau. Der Gemüsebau/Le Maraîcher, 5/1998,
17-20.
4 Puritch, G., Almond, D., Matson, R. & Mason, W. (1996). Ingestable mollusc poisons. WO-A-96/05728,
5 Bullock, J.I., Coward, N.P., Dawson, G.W., Henderson, I.F., Larkworthy, L.F., Martin, A.P. & McGrath, S.P.
(1992). Contact uptake of metal compounds and their molluscicidal effect on the field slug, Deroceras
reticulatum (Müller) (Pulmonata: Limacidae). Crop Protection, 11, 329-334.
6 Young, C. (1996). Metal chelates as stomach poison molluscicides for introduced pests, Helix aspersa, Theba
pisana, Cernuella virgata and Deroceras reticulatum in Australia. In Slug & Snail Pests in Agriculture (I.F.
Henderson, eds), pp. 237-243. British Crop Protection Council; Farnham, UK.
7 Ovieda, C. & Rodriguez, J. (2003). EDTA: The chelating agent under environmental scrutinity. Quimica Nova,
26, 901-905.
8 Roberts, W.L., Campbell, T.J. & Rapp, G.R. (1990). Encyclopedia of Minerals, Van Nostrand Reinhold
Company; New York.
9 Clark, A.M. (1993). Hey's Mineral Index, Chapman & Hall; London.

 

[gunnaknow]

heres a swiss report on "ferramol" that is easy to make yourself for very lil money

What's the point in making your own? Sluggo (ferramol) is $17 for 2.5 lbs, which is enough to cover 2500 sq feet. If you have to apply it twice per season, then it covers 1250 sq feet. That's about 1 cent per sq foot. Although at that price, you might aswel be generous and use 2 cents worth per sq foot.