Deroceras reticulatum
Table of Contents
Common Name: Gray Fieldslug
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: Animalia |
| Phylum: Mollusca |
| Class: Gastropoda |
| Order: Stylommatophora |
| Family: Agriolimacidae |
| Genus: Deroceras |
| Species: Deroceras reticulatum |
Conservation Status
Identifying Features
The gray fieldslug is a 1-2" long pale brown to gray slug. The tail is keeled dorsally.
Habitat & Range
They are found around human hadaptations, and can be a garden pest. In North America they are non-native, invasive, and can be found across most of the US and Southern Canada. They are native to Europe where they are very common. Gray fieldslugs live in deciduous forests as well.
Behavior
It emits a milky-white mucus when disturbed, and can self-amputate its tail when it becomes threatened.
Life Cycle
Gray fieldslugs are hermaphrodites, born with both male and female reproductive organs. They can self-fertilize, fertilize other slugs, or be fertilized by other slugs. They lay eggs in clusters of 12 or more and live around one year in the wild.
Featured image by James Dake
Related
Arion subfuscus
Dusky Arion
Discus patulus
Domed Disc
Haplotrema concavum
Gray-Foot Lancetooth