Working On My Tan - Arion subfuscus Slug
by Carol Senske
Title
Working On My Tan - Arion subfuscus Slug
Artist
Carol Senske
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
The Arion subfuscus slug is an introduced European species that successfully adapted to North American life. These slugs are �naturalized� fauna and, unfortunately, they are now permanent residents.
Slugs are land mollusks, like snails you find in the ocean but living on dry land. They are often considered pests of gardens because they will eat all manner of crops. I regularly find them on mushrooms, too - not very picky about what they eat.
Dampness is their friend and they can easily be found in damp locations under fallen branches, in leaf litter, or crawling in the moss.
These slugs, and I think I'm okay with this ID, get fairly large (3"), are typically slimy, and the colors range from quite pale to almost red. This picture was taken September 29, 2011, in Green Lane, Pennsylvania, USA.
If you don't mind getting "slimed", go here for more info:
http://idtools.org/id/mollusc/factsheet.php?name=Arion%20subfuscus%20group:%20Arion%20subfuscus
http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/slugs-as-pests-of-field-crops
Uploaded
March 29th, 2012
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Viewed 397 Times - Last Visitor from Mount Laurel, NJ on 03/27/2024 at 3:44 PM
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Comments (12)
Elizabeth Doran
Gosh They bring anything alive in except the poisonous centipedes here. They love nature and all things that grow outside including all creepy crawlies, the Cane spider and lizards here.
Bob Orsillo
Carol this is really cool photograph! ... v/f
Carol Senske replied:
Thank you, Bob:>). In truth, it may be grazing on algae or some such thing but here it sits - in the sun! - with a shadow, no less!
Elizabeth Doran
I really like this, his color is amazing! My boys are always collecting the huge slugs in our yard and try to bring them in to keep them as pets!
Carol Senske replied:
Lovely (not!). If they didn't leave those inconvenient slime trails it would be far better. But really - I'm tickled the boys are so into nature and the creatures around them; that's wonderful!
Elizabeth Doran
This one is kind of translucent and very pretty. Can slugs be pretty? The biggest one I have seen here was about 7 inches long climbing up the side of my house. They flatten out in a pretty big circle to.
Carol Senske replied:
I think they can be very handsome! Some have lovely patterns and colors - don't necessarily want to snuggle with them, though LOL
Elizabeth Doran
I like it! I like slugs! Great Shot! Banana slugs are they the ones we have here that are like 5 inches long?
Carol Senske replied:
Banana slugs are a different species, I think. They are more yellow and, yes, very big:>). Here's a quote from Wikipedia, "The Pacific banana slug is the second-largest species of terrestrial slug in the world, growing up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long,[4] and weights of 115 gram (4 oz)."
Doris Potter
Great shot Carol! Have you ever seen a Banana slug? (I think they are only on the west coast). They are amazing!
Carol Senske replied:
Hi, Doris. You're right, I think - they are only West Coast and I have some corrections to make on some of my pictures:>). These guys are introduced and now considered "naturalized fauna". The Banana Slugs are huge and yellow and very handsome! Never met one in person:>)