Manipulation of slug spatial behaviour by the rhabditid nematodePhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita

Abstract: Post-mortem location of slugs killed by six different treatments (three types ofmolluscicides, simulation of unsuccessful predation and two P. hermaphrodita nematodetreatments) were compared. In comparison to other pathogenic states, significantly more slugskilled by the nematodes died within the soil. We assume that this is an outcome of behaviouralmanipulation, which prevents the parasites from being predated or scavenged together with theirhost until the nematodes complete development inside the host cadaver.