Invertebrate
Milky Slug
Deroceras reticulatumAlso known as Grey Field Slug, Grey Garden Slug, Net-Reticulated Slug
Grey field slugs thrive in cultivated landscapes, consuming living plant tissue, seedlings, and fallen fruit across temperate regions worldwide. When threatened or irritated, they produce a thick, milky-white mucus that deters predators and gives them their alternative common name. These nocturnal mollusks spend dry daytime hours hidden beneath rocks, soil clods, and leaf litter to conserve moisture.
NocturnalMolluskAgricultural Pest
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPlant Seedlings, Foliage, Decaying Organic Matter
Predators
- Carabid Beetles
- Toads
- Hedgehogs
ThreatsAgricultural tillage, chemical molluscicides, natural predators
HabitatsAgricultural fields, gardens, pastures, damp woodlands
Life span1–2 years
Classification
- OrderStylommatophora
- FamilyAgriolimacidae
- GenusDeroceras
- SpeciesDeroceras reticulatum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Nighttime Observation: Search damp soil and beneath flowerpots using a flashlight after sunset.
- Handling Precaution: Wash hands thoroughly after contact to remove sticky, milky defensive mucus.
Competitor (c) Drepanostoma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Drepanostoma · cc-by
Predator (c) Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Co-Occurring Species (c) Rachel Lee Harper, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rachel Lee Harper · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Alessandro Franchini, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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