Slug

Scientific Name: Gastropoda (Unspecified species)

Order & Family: Order: Stylommatophora; Family: Various (e.g., Limacidae or Arionidae)

Size: 1 cm to 20 cm depending on species and age.

Slug

Natural Habitat

Damp, moist environments such as gardens, forests, mulch, and leaf litter; frequently active following rain.

Diet & Feeding

Mostly herbivores or detritivores, eating decaying plant matter, fungi, and living garden plants; some species are predatory.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and moisture-dependent; they move via a muscular foot and secrete a mucus trail to prevent dehydration and assist movement.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits include breaking down organic matter in ecosystems; risks include being significant garden pests and potential carriers of parasites (like lungworm) if accidentally ingested.

Identified on: 5/11/2026