See also
Find striped slug information at Animal Diversity Web
Striped slug
Arion silvaticus
What do they look like?
Length
3.80 cm (average)
(1.5 in)
Adults of this species of slug grow to about 3.8 cm long. It is a pale gray with two stripes along each side of its body. Beneath the stripes, the body is whitish. There are no stripes on the edge of the muscular foot's edge. A breathing pore is located on the mantle near the head.
Where in the world do they live?
This European slug is an introduced species in Michigan.
Biogeographic Regions:
nearctic (introduced); palearctic (native).
What kind of habitat do they need?
Striped slugs are found in moist areas of woods or near freshwater shores.
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
Terrestrial Biomes:
Aquatic Biomes:
How do they reproduce?
Breeding season
summer and fall
Number of offspring
150 to 200
Gestation period
4 weeks (high)
Frequently, a striped slug reproduces by self-fertilization. Otherwise it may exchange sperm with another slug, each one fertilizing the other. Approximately 150 to 200 eggs are laid in clusters. They will hatch in 3 to 4 weeks. Both adults and eggs overwinter. Adult slugs lay their eggs in the summer, and the eggs will hatch in the autumn. Each egg is approximately 5 mm across. The egg shell may be partially calcified. These newly hatched slugs will be mature by the following spring.
Key reproductive features:
How long do they live?
Longest known lifespan in wild
7.50 to 12 months
Striped slugs may live to be 7 1/2 months to 1 year old.
How do they behave?
This is a slow-moving slug, covering approximately 35 inches per night. During the warmer days of spring, striped slugs become active. They become inactive at 41 degrees F.
When irritated, striped slugs will exude slime and retract their tentacles.
How do they communicate with each other?
This slug is capable of detecting odors.
What do they eat?
These slugs feed on grasses, flowering bulbs such as irises, lilies and tulips, jimson weed and the leaves of some vegetables. They feed at night or on cloudy days. When feeding, they raise their tentacles and use their radula, the hard, scraping part of their mouth, to consume vegetation.
Primary Diet:
What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten?
Known predators
What roles do they have in the ecosystem?
These slugs may be parasitized by nematode worms or parasitic flies and larvae. This slug might be an intermediate host for trematode worms.
They may contribute to nutrient cycling.
Key ways these animals impact their ecosystem:
Do they cause problems?
Striped slugs are considered to be garden pests, eating grasses, bulbs, and some vegetables.
Ways that these animals might be a problem for humans:
crop pest.
How do they interact with us?
As a detritus feeder, these slugs create humus. In addition, their slime trails and waste have been shown to help leaf litter decompose. They help soil maintain lots of good microorganisms.
By looking at the chemicals in slugs' bodies, we can learn what pollution is in an environment.
Ways that people benefit from these animals:
produces fertilizer.
Some more information...
There are several related species that may be difficult to tell apart.
Contributors
Janice Pappas (author), University of Michigan.
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It is a partnership of the University of Michigan School of Education, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, and the Detroit Public Schools. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL-0628151.
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