Garden Slug
Scientific Name: Deroceras reticulatum (common examples)
Order & Family: Order Stylommatophora; Family Agriolimacidae (or Limacidae)
Size: 1 cm to over 15 cm depending on the specific species.
Natural Habitat
Damp, shaded environments such as gardens, under logs, leaf litter, and moist soil.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous and detritivorous; they consume a wide variety of plant material including leaves, stems, flowers, and decomposing organic matter.
Behavior Patterns
Primarily nocturnal to avoid dehydration; they move by muscular contractions of their 'foot' and leave a characteristic slime trail of mucus.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem by breaking down organic matter; however, they are significant garden pests that damage crops and can occasionally carry parasites like rat lungworm if ingested by pets or humans.
Identified on: 5/21/2026