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Harmful slugs found on Saipan?
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Posted on Nov 14 2004
Experts are in the process of verifying whether slugs that were spotted on Saipan are of the same type of the harmful pest that was earlier reported to have grown to epidemic proportions on Rota.
Isidoro Cabrera, agricultural consultant to the Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service, allayed fears, however, that the harmful Cuban slug has invaded Saipan.
“We’re not sure yet if that’s the same one on Rota,” Cabrera said.
He added, though, that CREES has already sent a slug specimen from Saipan to Rota for comparison. Both specimens from Saipan and Rota would be sent to Hawaii for scientific validation, he said.
Millions of Cuban slugs, scientifically known as Vernicella cubenis, have been destroying crops, prompting the CREES to raise an alarm some months ago to have the problem addressed by the government.
During that time, tropical horticulturist Mark J. Bonin of Rota’s CREES said that no Cuban slug has been found yet on Saipan and Tinian. Bonin urged the government to strengthen quarantine efforts.
Bonin said the Cuban slugs on Rota are believed to have come from Hawaii and Guam. The pests are believed to have reached Hawaii through importation of ornamental plants about 15 years ago.
In one of the field surveys on Rota, Bonin said his team spotted about 300 slugs on a papaya tree. He said the most effective way to contain slugs is the use of baits.
Cabrera stressed that, until the slug specimens on Saipan and Rota are found to be of the same type, there should be no cause for alarm on Saipan’s agricultural sector. He said no notable slug-caused damage to crops have been observed so far.
