Deroceras reticulatum

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Deroceras reticulatum (click on image for further details)
Author(s): Michal Horsák
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Deroceras reticulatum (O.F.Müller, 1774) - (grey field slug)

This field slug is an important pest in Europe, North America and other regions. In North America, it has been probably introduced from Europe. It is polyphagous, attacking many types of plants and crops like beet, potato, strawberry fruits, cereals, white clover or black salsify. In seedlings, damage up to 50% or more has been reported (e.g. see Kozlowski & Kozlowska, 2002). In the U.K. an annual potential damage of £100 million has been estimated for the whole agriculture, if no control methods would be taken (Campbell et al., 2021).

The slugs can reach a length of around 5 cm and have a very variable colour, usually cream to brownish and spotted in different shades of grey or black. In Europe, there are typically 2 generations per year and the eggs are the overwintering stage. Like other slugs, D. reticulatum is hermaphroditic with each slug having both male and female sexual organs. However, slugs normally pair for copulation.

Vernacular names
• Deutsch: Genetzte Ackerschnecke
Kleine Ackerschnecke
• English: grey field slug
grey garden slug
• Español: pequeña babosa gris
babosa gris de campo
• Français: petite limace grise