|
|
|
 Sent
to you
by e-mail
|
|
Simply
enter your details and hit the send button
more
info |
|
Click Here
Links
Advertise
Terms of Use
Contributors
About Us
Contact Us
|
 |
Go back
| Bookmark
| Print Page 
| E-Mail Us 
 
Photo: G. Bradley |
|
UK
Safari Tip:
Find out what creatures are lurking in your garden with the
identification chart called "Bugs on Bushes" - click here
|
|
Latin name: Arion ater agg
Size: Up to 150mms long
Distribution: Found throughout the UK
Months seen: April to November
Food: All kinds of vegetation.
Habitat: Found under stones, under logs, in compost heaps, and buried in soil.
Special features: The photo above shows the orange form of the large black slug, but there are more than 30 different species of slug in the UK.
Although slugs are closely related to snails, most slugs do not have protective shells. Instead they have a leathery patch on their backs known as a 'mantle shield'. There is a small round hole in this shield which is the slug's breathing pore or nostril.
A few slugs, known as 'shelled slugs' have a tiny shell plate on their tail. They are rarely seen as they burrow in the soil, and only come out in damp weather at night.
 One of the most frequently seen species is the common grey field
slug (Deroceras reticulatum). The colour of this species can vary from grey through to pink.
It feeds on, or just below the surface. In wet weather it also feeds on leaves above the surface.
 Another
regularly seen species is the garden slug (Arion hortensis), so called because it is so frequently found in gardens. It is black coloured with an orange
coloured sole, and grows to about 35mms.
 This is probably the only leopard you're likely to find in your garden. It's a
leopard slug (Limax maximus), so called because of the spots. It can grow to about
160mms in length, but don't
worry, your plants are safe. This species feeds on mould growing on rotting
logs.
Slug Pellets... and some alternatives
Slug Sex - It's messy!
Carnivorous Slugs
UK Safari Creepy-Crawlies Section
|
|
|
