The abnormally warm winter coupled with a soggy summer has resulted in a generation of “sleepless slugs” responsible for a rise in crop damage across the UK.

Conditions last winter and the early part of this spring were not cold enough to send slugs into hibernation and now the conservation charity BugLife has predicted growers will see the slug population surge as a result.

Slugs will stay active while temperatures remain above 5C and the charity says the pest could lay up to 200 eggs/cu m.

See also: Online scheme launched to connect growers and beekeepers

Last December was the warmest since records began, with average temperatures hovering around 8C – making it feel more like spring than winter.

This was a dramatic contrast to the freezing conditions felt at the end of April, with snow, hail and heavy frosts taking crops and growers by surprise.

See also: 15 growers tweets as crops hit by crazy April snow showers

Across many parts of the country slugs have been reported by growers and agronomists as a particularly troublesome pest in recent months, with spring drilled crops at greatest risk.

Slugs having a go at spring barley so time to spin some pellets on. #clubhectare #farming365 pic.twitter.com/fW3zrQBfs0

— Exe Valley Lamb (@ExeValleyLamb) April 28, 2016

Finding a few #slugs having a munch on the wheat this morning, just a reminder to keep an eye on the spring crops pic.twitter.com/J2mH3SzWrX

— Steve May (@11smay) April 2, 2016

Slugs chomping their way through the spring barley on heavy clay pic.twitter.com/zqvuteaBzC

— Andrew Woolley (@woolley60andrew) April 12, 2016

https://twitter.com/Indigro1/status/719847631585996800

#Slugs enjoying their lunch in the sun, Zulu #wheat, Scottish Borders pic.twitter.com/AeVZttQGP3

— BASF Agricultural Solutions UK (@BASFcropUK) April 20, 2016

The slug war is real. Spring Barley trying to survive #slugs #crossslot pic.twitter.com/lDuYRJ0oFO

— Harry Mouland 🇬🇧 🚜 🌾 (@Farmer_Mooo) April 18, 2016