Are slugs harmful to bees or honey?

[BernardBlack]

I have a poly nuc overwintering. I have the feeder on top, as I have fondant on.

Each time I check fondant, there’s a number of slugs up inside the feeder tray. Even though I have the hive entrance reduced to small, I assume that’s where they’re getting in.

Anyway, are slugs (or their trails) harmful to bees? Or to the honey if consumed?

 

[Curly green finger's]

I don't think so, I've seen slugs live along side bees and leave trails over frames of stores, I don't know if there is any evidence to say that there slime can effect the bees in any way.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Interesting I don't see slugs in poly nucs.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

are slugs (or their trails) harmful to bees? Or to the honey if consumed?

No

Interesting I don't see slugs in poly nucs.

Not often in occupied ones but frequently in empty ones stacked away for winter

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i have a few slugs in occupied hives, especially the ones i removed the floor from for CBPV measures

i tend to just flick them out and have assumed no harm

 

[pargyle]

I often find them in unoccupied hives ... rarely see tracks on the comb though - they tend to stick to the corners and walls - I assume they feed on the debris that falls out of the combs - pollen mites and other insects that clearly get in to stored hives. I find them under the roofs of occupied hives but don't often find them in hives occupied by an active colony, They are natures scavengers - probably do no harm. I eject them when I come across them but they have a place in the apiary ....not amongst my salad ad veg beds though !

 

[Beegarden]

I used to get the occasional slug inside my roofs I bought a roll of insecticide-free fruit tree grease band and tied a section around each leg of the hives. No problem since and the bees aren't bothered by them.

 

[masterBK]

Found a leopard slug in an Apidea once