| Greenhouse slug | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Milacidae |
| Genus: | Milax |
| Species: | M. gagates |
| Binomial name | |
| Milax gagates (Draparnaud, 1801) [1] | |
| Synonyms | |
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Milax gagates, known by the common name greenhouse slug, is a species of air-breathing, keeled, land slug, a shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Milacidae. [2]
The body of Milax gagates is an even dark grey to black, although it has somewhat lighter sides. [3] There are no pigment spots. [3] The mantle is relatively large (35-40% of body length), with distinct grooves. [3] The keel is prominent between mantle and posterior end. [3] Skin sculpture is weak. There are 16-17 grooves between keel and pneumostome. [3] The sole of the foot has blackish lateral zones and a lighter medial zone. [3]
Milax gagates is up to 50 mm long. [3] Preserved specimen have a length of 25–30 mm and a width of 6–8 mm. [3] The weight of adult slugs ranges from 991.2 mg to 3308.0 mg. [4]
Reproductive system: The penis is rounded, and half as long as the epiphallus. [3] The epiphallus is slightly widened and truncated (as if cut off) at its end. [3] the vas deferens is short (usually not longer than epiphallus), opens asymmetrically at the truncated end of the epiphallus. [3] The atrium is short, and not widened. [3] The accessory gland consist of several elongate glands and is connected to the atrium by some 20 short coiled tubular ducts. [3] The stimulator is narrow, conical, slightly flattened at its end with some papillae. [3]
The stimulator of the similar species Milax nigricans has more papillae situated at its base and not near its free end. [3]
The native range of Milax gagates was originally from Morocco through Tunisia and southern Spain to southern France and the Balearic Islands. [3]
It is an endangered species in Rhineland-Palatinate, [3] Germany.
The species may be native to the Canary Islands. [3]
Milax gagates has been introduced in the area between Portugal and Galicia, the Atlantic coastlands of France to Belgium, the British Isles, and in many other areas almost worldwide (Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Japan, Pacific islands, South Africa, Atlantic islands). [3] As an introduced species it now occurs in a number of countries and islands including:
Milax gagates lives mostly in cultivated areas, often the coast, and also in forests, shrublands, and natural meadows. [3] It prefers habitats close to water. [3] It hides under stones, moist ground litter and in soil cavities. [3]
It feeds on fresh herbs, including the roots. It can sometimes be a pest of crops such as carrots and potatoes. [3] It is occasionally damaging to gardens and crops in Britain. [3] It is an agricultural pest on soybean, sunflower, and oilseed rape in Argentina. [4]
In Britain copulation takes place during the period from spring to autumn. [3] During copulation both slugs cling together so closely that no everted genitalia are visible. [3] Under laboratory conditions, the first eggs are laid 5–15 days after copulation. [3] At one time approximately 15 eggs are laid. [3] This can be repeated several times, but in total not more than 100 eggs are laid by one individual. [3] The dimensions of the eggs are 2 × 1.5 mm. [3] Self-fertilization is also possible. [3]
The slug is semelparous, dying 15 to 30 days after laying eggs. [3] Juveniles hatch after at least 25 to 30 days. [3] Maturity is reached in 4 to 5 months under laboratory conditions. [3]
Limax maximus, known by the common names great grey slug and leopard slug, is a species of slug in the family Limacidae, the keeled slugs. It is among the largest keeled slugs, Limax cinereoniger being the largest.
The shelled slug, scientific name Testacella haliotidea, is a rarely seen, air-breathing, carnivorous land slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Testacellidae, the shelled slugs.
The black slug, Arion ater, is a large terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Arionidae, the round back slugs. Many land slugs lack external shells, having a vestigial shell. Most slugs retain a remnant of their shell, which is usually internalized, unlike other terrestrial mollusks which have external shells. Without such shells, slugs produce mucus, that may also contain toxins—to deter predators. Terrestrial slugs produce two other forms of mucus that facilitate locomotion and prevent death from drying. Such mollusks are hermaphroditic. Slugs most often function as decomposers but are also often omnivores. Arion ater is one such slug, decomposing organic matter, preying on other organisms, and consuming vegetative matter including agricultural crops. Native to Europe, the black slug is an invasive species in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Tandonia budapestensis is a species of air-breathing, keeled, land slug, a shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the family Milacidae.
Deroceras laeve, the marsh slug, is a species of small air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.
Arionidae, common name the "roundback slugs" or "round back slugs" are a taxonomic family of air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Arionoidea.
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.
Tandonia nigra is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Milacidae.
Tandonia is a genus of air-breathing, keeled, land slugs. These are shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the family Milacidae.
Tandonia rustica is a species of air-breathing, keeled, land slug, a shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Milacidae.
Boettgerilla pallens, common name the worm slug, is a European species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Boettgerillidae.
Testacella maugei is a species of air-breathing, carnivorous land slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Testacellidae, the shelled slugs.
Arion silvaticus is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Arionidae.
Milax is a genus of air-breathing, keeled, land slugs. These are shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the family Milacidae.
The reproductive system of gastropods varies greatly from one group to another within this very large and diverse taxonomic class of animals. Their reproductive strategies also vary greatly, see Mating of gastropods.
Angiostoma is a genus of parasitic nematodes in the family Angiostomatidae.
Tandonia serbica is a species of keeled slug in the family Milacidae. It is endemic to the eastern Balkans.
Okenia zoobotryon is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae. It is normally found on the colonial bryozoan Amathia verticillata on which it lives and feeds.