SNAILS AND SLUGS

Meadow Slug, Deroceras laeve

Class: Gastropoda (Snails and Slugs)

Size: Up to 1"

Habitat: Marshes, moist woodlands, rural areas

Range: Throughout North America

Also known as the “marsh slug” or “brown slug,” this is an introduced species from the Old World that is now common and widespread in North America. It is quite small and nondescript, about as long as a quarter, with a cylindrical body, a tapered tail end, and an elongate oval mantle. There are subtle, concentric ridges on the front half of the back and two pairs of dark gray, stubby tentacles. The color can be tan, brown, blackish, or a mottled combination of these, and the skin is somewhat translucent. The foot, on the underside, is thin and whitish. Meadow Slugs are relatively active, feed on plants or decaying organic material, and can be pests in gardens or greenhouses. They flourish in very moist areas, can survive periods being submerged in water, and can even tolerate freezing temperatures.