Rota slugs attack anew, worsens

The feared accelerated propagation of the Rota slugs has finally happened as these slugs have doubled in numbers and are causing more damage on Rota.

Herman A. Apatang, Rota’s Department of Lands and Natural Resources resident head, said the slug problem on the island has worsened compared to last year’s condition. He said the slugs have invaded major thoroughfares on Rota.

“You can see them on the road. It’s beginning to cover the entire island,” he added.

With slugs spreading to farms and crop lands, several Rota farmers have been trying to eradicate the pests on their own, at their own expense, Apatang said, adding that farmers are suffering tremendously due to this problem. They [farmers] can’t plant vegetables,” he said

At the moment, though, Apatang said his office couldn’t make an accurate assessment of the extent of the damage that Rota has sustained from these slugs.

He said DLNR is now waiting for the assistance of biology expert Dr. Robert Hollsworth from Hawaii to help the CNMI resolve this problem.

The Northern Marianas College – Cooperative Research Education and Extension Service has been helping Apatang resolve the problem through data collection and research on different eradication procedures and methods.

He said the problems with the slugs started to worsen only last year. He said lack of preventive measures contributed to the population explosion of the slugs.

Apatang said the CNMI hasn’t had any funding for the eradication of this problem. He said NMC’s only entomologist, Dr. Joaquin Tenorio, is also coming up with proposals for a grant application.

NMC-CREES agriculture consultant Isidoro Cabrera said the agency is on top of the situation.

According to Cabrera the slug, Veronicella cubensis, has multiplied on Rota could threaten other areas. He stressed though that the problem remains isolated on Rota and Guam, at least for now.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture pest alert said that the slugs’ effect on the natural environment and on ecotourism is potentially very serious.

“Residents should take precautions not to move slugs to new areas of the CNMI, where they can cause further damage,” the pest alert said.

In September last year the use of bait had exterminated millions of harmful slugs that feast on Rota’s agricultural crops, but the bait supply was soon exhausted.