The foraging behaviour of the slug Deroceras reticulatum (Muller, 1774) is modified in the presence of cuticular scents from a carabid beetle

Chemicals are the major means of control used against slugs, which are serious pests of various crops. To increase the sustainability of farming practices, alternatives that do not harm nontarget organisms are necessary. One area of investigation focuses on the capacities of prey to perceive their predators, which enables them to display antipredator behaviours. This study presents initial evidence of the potential effectiveness of using chemical cues from a predatory ground beetle to protect young oilseed rape shoots against a worldwide pest, the slug Deroceras reticulatum (Muller, 1774) (Stylommatophora: Agriolimacidae). A two-choice assay was used to test whether chemical cues from Carabus nemoralis Muller, 1764 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) could impede the foraging of D. reticulatum on young oilseed rape shoots. Significantly fewer cotyledons were consumed when chemical cues from the ground beetle were present compared with the control area, where slugs were mainly found. Chemical cues from predatory ground beetles appear to be a promising solution for protecting at-risk crops from the depredations of pest slugs.