Slug
Scientific Name: Gastropoda (Generic class, possibly Deroceras reticulatum)
Order & Family: Order Stylommatophora, various families including Agriolimacidae
Size: Typically 1 cm to 15 cm depending on the species and age.
Natural Habitat
Damp environments such as gardens, under logs, leaf litter, and moist soil within temperate and tropical regions.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous or detritivorous; they feed on various plant leaves, fruits, decaying organic matter, and fungi.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and moisture-dependent. They secrete a protective mucus to facilitate movement and prevent desiccation. They are hermaphroditic and lay clutches of translucent eggs in damp soil.
Risks & Benefits
They are major garden pests that consume seedlings and crops. Ecosystem benefits include decomposing organic matter and providing a food source for birds, toads, and beetles. Some species can carry parasites like the rat lungworm.
Identified on: 5/21/2026