I found this large and beautifully patterned Leopard Slug yesterday. It was out on a Forest green. Although well camouflaged, the shine of its thick slime trail brought it to my attention, so it has probably become a meal for a passing bird by now.
We rarely see Leopard slugs here. The ones that do most damage in the garden are much smaller but can decimate a lettuce plant overnight!
There is some interesting information about the Leopard Slug, Limax maximus, on Wikipedia. Apparently they are not gregarious, they have a strong homing instinct and they mate hanging upside down from a branch........
9 comments:
Ah, I had wondered what they were called. I came across one some 10 years ago, on the forest floor of a small conifer plantation.
I called me fellow dog walkers over to marvel at how huge it was, whereupon her dopey Dalmation galloped over and squashed it flat with his big paw!
It was a beauty.
I love the markings on the Leopard Slug and the wonderful camouflage.
Rather splendid, isn't it! Slugs are fascinating, once you get past the fear and loathing stage....
Not sure I wish to know that DW - Yuk! But, yes, grudgingly, they do have beautiful patterning.
Definitely good looking but not good in a good way...
David Attenborough's team managed to film the mating process of them, I'm sure it can be Googled...
What beautiful marking but........ it is a slug !
Living as I do in the desert we have slugs but pack rats who will destroy a plant, lots of cactus too in an evening.
cheers, parsnip
I'm glad I'm not the only one interested in slugs! Very nice one and I will be visiting Wikipedia...
We're not having too much trouble with slug/snails here at present, seeing as how at 4 pm this afternoon it was 104F/40C with 12% humidity. . . . oh, and we have grackles. . .
Lovely slug, we have a hughe amout of slowworms at present. Julie xxx
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