#deroceras

[giulliadella]

Important update on Gummy!

I finally found out which species my baby is! He’s Deroceras invadens also known as tramp slug. He’s grown up nicely and now I was able to see all of the characteristics in the identification key. This brings some good and bad news:

Gummy is a native species here in Southern Europe where I live. The species originated from Italy and spread across Europe and can now be found from Spain to Bulgaria. However, if you see Gummy-like slugs anywhere outside of Europe, well they are invasive. Deroceras genus is only native to Europe!

These slugs are one of the few species of slug that are pure herbivores. Most slugs are omnivorous and occasionally enjoy eating meat, insects and worms in the wild, but Deroceras always only eat plants. My baby is vegan :з

These slugs love high humidity. They like their soil quite wet and covered with lots of leaves.

And the bad news is that this species has a lifespan of only 12-18 months. Gummy is between 4 and 6 months old, so that means that I won’t have him for a long time. A part of me is devastated because of this, but these are tiny slugs and slugs in general have short lifespans. However, this just makes me determined to give him the best life a slug could dream of, so that when he goes to slug heaven, he could tell all his friends about that weird eldrtich monster that took care of him.

Here are some photos of him:

@crystalmagpie447

[lilgingersphotography]

“The Slug On The Stump”
Netted Slug (Deroceras reticulatum) on a tree stump in my neighbor’s backyard.

[mbimphblog]

FIRST REPORT OF Deroceras sp. (GASTROPODA, PULMONATA, AGRIOLIMACIDAE) AS PEST OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS IN KASHMIR VALLEY (INDIA) | UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Deroceras sp. (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Agriolimacidae) is being reported for first time from Kashmir Valley (India). It was found a pest of agriculturally important crops like beans, brassicas (Kale, kohlrabi), potato, radish, sugar beet etc. and caused minor to moderate, but significant damage of these agriculturally important crops. Preliminary investigation reveals that this species might be Deroceras laeve (Muller 1774) that is already widely distributed in nearby countries like Butan, China, Pakistan, and Nepal. It suggests that this slug might have been in this part of the world for some time. Surveys and taxonomic studies are required to be conducted to confirm its species. Moreover, further investigation will reveal its distribution and pest status in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Please read full article - http://mbimph.com/index.php/UPJOZ/

[drhoz]

#1148 - Deroceras sp. -  Field Slug

Seems closest to Deroceras agreste, formerly Agriolimax agrestis, aka grey field slug, milky slug, and northern field slug. They’re more often grey or oatmeal coloured, but tan and buff individuals aren’t rare. Dissection would be needed to confirm the ID. Most of the Agriolimacid slugs get rolled back into one genus - Deroceras - in 2000, because the taxonomy was that much of a mess.

If attacked, Deroceras agreste slugs produce a white mucus in self-defense. They live in moist fields and marshy areas, and may become a pest of lettuce. Native to Asia, and Northern and central Europe..

@purrdence saw this one in Overloon, in the Netherlands.