Deroceras reticulatum, common names the grey field slug, grey garden slug, and milky slug, is a species of small air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Agriolimacidae. This species is an important agricultural pest.
Distribution
Deroceras reticulatum is native to Europe, North Africa and the Atlantic Islands. It occurs widely in Europe, but is more rare and restricted to cultivated fields in the southeast, particularly in the Balkans, and is probably absent from Greece and the Bulgarian mountains. In the north and central European lowlands, Great Britain, and Ireland, it is probably the most widely occurring slug. In northern Scandinavia it is scarce, and is mainly found as a synanthrope.
This species occurs in countries and islands including:
Great Britain
Ireland
Austria
Spain
Bulgaria
Czech Republic – least concern (LC)
Netherlands
Poland
Slovakia
Sweden
Latvia
Ukraine
The species has been widely introduced as a synanthrope to many regions:
North America, in parts of Northern Michigan and Southern Michigan as well as Kentucky
Canada
Colombia
Peru
Argentina – major slug pest in Buenos Aires province
Saint Helena
Tasmania
New Zealand
central Asia
Description
Drawing of the reproductive system of Deroceras reticulatum. a – atrium p – penis s – stimulator mr – musculus retractor penis gp – glandula penis bc – bursa copulatrix ov – oviductus.
Deroceras reticulatum
As all other Deroceras it has a short keel at the back of the body. Deroceras reticulatum is very variable in colour, creamy or light coffee cream, rarely blackish spotted (slugs with spots may appear blackish). Behind the mantle there is the dark spots form a reticulate pattern. The skin is thick. Mucus is colourless, on irritation milky white. The slug cannot be distinguished from many other Deroceras species based only on its external appearance.
This slug can be up to 40–60 mm long (preserved...
