After the floods and the mosquitoes, and then after a bout of steaming hot weather, Poland’s southern Małopolska region is now suffering from an invasion of slugs.

The slimy beasts are ravaging gardens and vegetable plantations.

According to the specialists, the slugs, which are blue, orange or black in colour, do not belong to an Polish domestic  species but mostly derive from warmer climates.  

“They have arrived via all sorts of transports and found here a good place to breed and feed,” says Bożena Kotońska, nature conservator for the region. “So they have multiplied and are now harassing vegetable growers and owners of small gardens. They are happy to eat not only lettuce and cabbage but also decorative plants.”

The invading slugs do not belong to protected species, and are not for consumption in opposition to Poland’s edible snail which, however, can be gathered only in May. (ek/pg)