Slug
Scientific Name: Gastropoda (Class)
Order & Family: Order: Stylommatophora; Family: Various (e.g., Limacidae, Arionidae)
Size: 1 cm to 15 cm depending on the species.
Natural Habitat
Damp, moist environments such as gardens, under logs, leaf litter, and basements.
Diet & Feeding
Mainly herbivorous, eating leaves, stems, flowers, and decaying organic matter; some are omnivorous.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and most active in high humidity; they move using a muscular foot and leave a characteristic slime trail.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem by decomposing organic matter; however, they can be significant garden pests and some may carry parasites like the rat lungworm if ingested by pets or humans.
Identified on: 1/4/2026