The concern from the standpoint of Hawaii agricultural officials was the potential threat from an invasive species. That's a tremendous problem with them there, and for that matter, here.

Whether or not an individual buyer might accept a tree with a slug on it isn't the issue at all.

They made the right call.

While they do have a big problem with invasive species over there, I fail to see slugs as being a problem.

They don't have a problem with illegal aliens either.

Mahalo

I fail to see slugs as being a problem.

And what are your qualifications to make that call?

While I'm not saying I'm qualified to make such a call either, I would defer to the official in this case who was concerned for their vegetable crops in cooler, higher elevation climate zones. When there's a concern, you err on the side of caution, because it's almost impossible to reverse the introduction of an invasive species. Think English Ivy. Scotch Broom. Climatis. Kudzu. Zebra snails. The list goes on and on.

Guess you can tell I'm a Montana girl...when you said "slugs" I thought you meant "bullets".

"Think English Ivy. Scotch Broom. Climatis. Kudzu. Zebra snails. The list goes on and on."

The best one is Himalayan Blackberry. It's EVERYWHERE and impossible to get rid of.

Is this the same bunch of liberals who love diversity and sharing of cultures? Sounds like a bunch of tighty whities who don't want anything foreign and icky to visit them.

Remember the Honorable Vera Katz introducing the South American Coypu a rat like animal better known here as the very destructive Nutria to Portland’s beautiful Rhododendrons Gardens? A rodent with a bounty on it in some places!

Need I say more?

Re: Invasive species - It pays to not take chances.

Re: Slug on a Christmas tree - Hey, they're shiny. Call 'em ornaments!

tighty whities

You should visit Hawaii some time; it might be an eye-opener for you.

I wonder if someone might educate me on slug reproduction. Are there male and female slugs that need to hook up to propogate? (Ewwwwww... that just brought to mind an unholy pairing of Rosie O'Donnell and Michael Moore...)

Here's why I ask - Unlike some other infestations, where the "visitor" has mobility (plant spores blown by wind, insects buzzing away, etc), slugs aren't very mobile. Would they really be able to leave the hot lowlands of Hawaii and move to the cooler, higher-elevation areas?

That seems unlikely. So then the problem might be Christmas tree shoppers, who take their trees to those more-temperate areas and then pluck the icky slug off and throw it outside. But, in order for the slug population to thrive and become a problem, does the slug need to find another to hook up with in order to create a happy slug family?

The best one is Himalayan Blackberry. It's EVERYWHERE and impossible to get rid of.

Darn tasty though...

I guess the city folk don't get this one. Non-native slugs can eat a fair share of garden produce if you don't work hard at dealing with them (or get lazy and just flat out poison them). Himalayan blackberries are also a pain in the a@@ to deal with.
Props to Hawaii.

Salt kills slugs.
A marigold "fence" protects the veggies from them.
Himalayan blackberries are bland and insipid.
Not many white folks running things in Hawaii.